As a performer he sang leading opera roles throughout the United States under such conductors as Fritz Reiner, Leopold Stokowski, Artur Rodzinski, and Erich Leinsdorf.
While a student he made his first professional opera performance on the radio in 1933 singing Titurel in Richard Wagner's Parsifal with the Philadelphia Orchestra under conductor Leopold Stokowski.
He appeared frequently with that orchestra in concerts during the 1930s and 1940s, including portraying the role of Patrocle in the United States premiere of Christoph Willibald Gluck's Iphigénie en Aulide on February 22, 1935 at the Academy of Music.
In 1942 he created the role of the Vicar of Etchezar in the world premiere of Deems Taylor's Ramuntcho with Sylvan Levin's Philadelphia Opera Company.
He notably portrayed Swallow in the historic American premiere of Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes at the Tanglewood Music Festival under conductor Leonard Bernstein in 1946.