Writing under the name of Rodney Milnes, he was opera critic of Harpers and Queen (1970–90), The Spectator (1988–90), the Evening Standard (1990–92) and Chief Opera Critic of The Times (1992–2002).

He was associated with Opera from 1976, serving as Editor between 1986 and 1999. His English singing translations include Rusalka, The Jacobin, Osud and Tannhäuser.

In 2002 he was awarded an OBE for services to journalism and music. He died in 2015.