 With Murray Perahia, Pears gave performances of such works as Britten's "Michelangelo Sonnets" and Schumann's "Liederkreis" to critical acclaim.He continued to perform until a stroke ended his singing career in 1980 shortly after the celebrations marking his seventieth birthday.After that he remained an active director of the Aldeburgh Festival, and taught at the Britten-Pears School which he and his partner had set up in 1972.