But the real kickoff came last month, when the Canadian Opera presented its ambitious production of Wagner's "Ring" cycle, the first ever in Canada.

Until the Four Seasons Center opened, the Canadian Opera had made do for more than 40 years with an ill-equipped house unsuited to its mission, the Hummingbird Center.

In 1983 the Canadian Opera invented supertitles and was the first company to use them.

Mr. Kellogg wishes the Canadian Opera well.

His operatic career began at the Canadian Opera, as Spoletta in Tosca, in 1956.

The Center's first big test will come in September, when the Canadian Opera will stage Wagner's Ring Cycle.

But contract issues have been resolved, and the season opened strongly on Saturday night with Donizetti's "Anna Bolena," in a brilliant production first done at the Canadian Opera.

After this, he sang roles with opera companies throughout Britain and with Canadian Opera; he appeared frequently in concerts, music hall, cabaret, and pantomime.

Elsewhere, the Canadian Opera has had less luck with its casting than it did last year.

His father began to give him voice lessons at age 19 and encouraged him to join the chorus of the Canadian Opera.