[1] He rose from humble beginnings in Yorkshire to become a leading performer in London and in the major opera houses of Europe and America.

He was educated at High Storrs Grammar School and was introduced to opera by his mother Violet, who smuggled him into the Lyceum Theatre where she was working as a secretary.

[1] In 1961 Glossop won the gold medal at the International Operatic Competition in Sofia and was engaged by the Royal Opera House.

His début at Covent Garden was as Demetrius in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream.His big breakthrough came in 1964 when he took over the title role in Rigoletto at very short notice and scored a great personal triumph.

[5] In June 1968 Glossop was picked by Herbert von Karajan to sing the role of Tonio in his film of the opera Pagliacci.

His further repertory included Don Carlo in Ernani, Mandryka in Arabella, Pizarro in Fidelio and the title roles in The Flying Dutchman and Macbeth.

These include Macbeth with Rita Hunter in the 1960s, Billy Budd under the composer, and the part of Choroebus in Berlioz's Les Troyens under Colin Davis.

[5] Comments made elsewhere include that he was a "rumbustious Yorkshireman" who was "blessed with a booming, powerful voice and an occasionally coarse temperament".