Several fine opera singers call Sussex home, most notably Dames Kiri Te Kanawa and Felicity Lott and Maria Ewing.

Less well known is that the county, more specifically Lewes, is home to the greatest bass in the world: John Tomlinson.

For the past ten summers, John, President of the Brighton Youth Orchestra, has been wowing Wagner fans at Bayreuth, becoming the finest Wotan of his generation.

When he is not at the Wagner Festival, he can generally be found in the great opera houses of the world, including the Metropolitan, New York, and the Royal Opera House, London, where he is commanding in the German and Russian repertoire.

At the moment, Tomlinson is back where it all started for him with English National Opera at the London Coliseum.

This winter, he is starring in two major productions, Mussorgsky's Khovanshchina and Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier.

Tomlinson has clocked up almost 600 performances in his 30-year career with ENO.

Dossifey in Khovanshchina is the latest of some 50 roles.

Dossifey is the leader of the Old Believers in Mussorgsky's tale of ultra-orthodoxy versus the reforms of Tsar Peter the Great.

Tomlinson is a big man and he was born to command. In magnificent robes and with long, flowing, white beard, he strides the stage dominating proceedings.

His voice fills the theatre - and the Coliseum is the largest in London - seemingly without effort. He opens his mouth and the deepest, most mellifluous and beautiful voice emerges to warm, thrill and delight.

Even the sight of the world's second-greatest bass, Willard White, stripping down to a thong to dally with some lovelies in a pool almost goes by unnoticed - it is Tomlinson who dominates this production and it is his voice you remember long afterwards.

Khovanshchina is in the ENO repertoire until February 11. The revival of Jonathan Miller's Der Rosenkavalier with John Tomlinson as Baron Ocha opens on February 28. Call the London Coliseum on 020 7632 9300.

Willard White will appear in concert with the Eastbourne Camerata at the Winter Gardens, Eastbourne on October 26. Call 01323 412000.