Thomas Hammons is acclaimed throughout the world in over forty rôles in the classic basso buffo repertoire and in the world of modern music theater. He created the rôle of Henry Kissinger in the world première of Nixon in China by John Adams for the Houston Grand Opera in 1987, and his iconic portrayal was subsequently seen in Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, and Los Angeles, along with important revivals at the Cincinnati Opera, Opera Colorado, Canadian Opera Company and Vancouver Opera. His association with John Adams continued in the inaugural production of The Death of Klinghoffer at the Opéra de la Monnaie in Brussels, with later performances in Lyons, Vienna, San Francisco and at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Thomas Hammons made his début at the Metropolitan Opera as the Sacristan in Tosca during the 1996–1997 season, and has returned to the Met every season thereafter in numerous performances.