He was active with the United States's most important opera companies during the 1980s, sharing the stage with many notable singers like Luciano Pavarotti, Jessye Norman, and Renata Scotto.
With that company, he went on to appear in Ariadne auf Naxos (as Harlekin), La bohème (as Schaunard), Les pêcheurs de perles, Pagliacci, and Faust.
He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera on November 24, 1981, as Papageno to the Pamina of Gail Robinson, Tamino of David Kuebler, and Queen of the Night of Zdzisława Donat.
[2] Dickson made his first appearance at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on May 14, 1982, as Dr Falke in Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus with Gualtiero Negrini as Alfred.
[3] On November 4, 1982 Dickson made his debut at the San Francisco Opera as Prince Yeletsky in The Queen of Spades with Teresa Żylis Gara is Lisa and Regina Resnik as the Countess.
[4] On the international stage, Dickson made his European debut in 1979 as Papageno, a role he sang in numerous opera houses in Austria, Italy, France, and Germany during the 1980s.