Composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle led the tributes following the death of opera star Philip Langridge.

The Kent-born singer was a multiple Grammy winning tenor.

He died on March 5, 2010, aged 70.

Sir Harrison Birtwistle said: "He was a unique artist musician and his death leaves a large hole in the world's music."

Philip's initial career in music was as an orchestral violinist after studying at the Royal Academy of Music but he changed direction and made his professional operatic debut at Glyndebourne in Capriccio in 1964. He is said to have been at his most distinguished performing the works of Benjamin Britten.

In 1994 he was made a CBE for services to music.

He was married to Irish mezzo-soprano Ann Murray. The couple had one son, Jonathan. He also had three children from a previous marriage.

Elaine Padmore, director of opera at the Royal Opera House, said "His intelligence, his humour, his wonderful voice and superb musicianship, his compelling presence on stage, the many roles he made his own - his Loge here is etched in the memory, and Lulu only last season - all these come to mind together with the obvious pleasure he felt at singing in Harrison Birtwistle's The Minotaur directed by his son Stephen.

"All these wonderful things about Philip will be sorely missed, as well as his broad smile and great story-telling."