Image copyright AFP Image caption Mortier, who was born in Belgium, had been suffering from cancer

Opera director Gerard Mortier, who died last month age 70, has been given a posthumous lifetime achievement honour at the International Opera Awards.

In a career spanning more than three decades, Mortier was head of Madrid's Teatro Real, the Paris Opera and the Salzburg Festival.

Australian tenor Stuart Skelton was named best male singer while Diana Damrau was named best female singer.

Joseph Calleja won the readers' award, voted for by readers of Opera Magazine.

Image copyright PA Image caption Diana Damrau won the female singer award

The festival international d'art lyrique, an annual international music festival which takes place in Aix-en-Provence, was given the festival award at the event in London, presented by Wynne Evans.

Performances were given by young singer of the year nominee Duncan Rock, Susana Gasper and winner of the male singer award, Skelton.

Vlaamse Opera's production of Parsifal won the anniversary production award while the Aldeburgh Festivals production of Peter Grimes on the beach was also presented with an anniversary production award as part of celebrations marking the centenary of the birth of composer Benjamin Britten.

Director of the Bavarian State Opera, Kirill Petrenko, was presented with the conductor award.

The Salzburg Festival's production of Norma was named best new production while Jamie Barton was named young singer. Last year, the young American was crowned the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.

A full list of winners is at the International Opera Awards' website.