his outstanding achievements were awarded on various occasions both at home and abroad. to note just a few; he was awarded twice by international jury of critics in france as the best singer of the season at the festival theatre of nations in paris, in 1959 (for the role of mephistopheles) and in 1961 (for that of boris godunov). he was also awarded by the french government as the chevalier de l'ordre des arts et des lettres, for his contribution to promoting the french culture. he died in belgrade, serbia, in 1999.