In Memoriam: Rita Hunter - 29 April
2001
We were all saddened by the unexpected death of Rita Hunter
CBE one of our Honorary Life Members. Rita was to have been
our guest speaker at the Annual Lunch and was greatly missed;
we all drank a toast to her memory. The world has lost an outstanding
Brünnhilde, Turandot and Leonora among many roles. We will all
remember her warm personality, her wonderful sense of humour
and her glorious voice. Our deepest sympathy is extended to
her daughter Mairwyn Thomas.
- Barbara McNulty on behalf of the Wagner Society in NSW Inc.
A number of overseas and Australian newspapers carried obituaries
to Rita Hunter.
From the UK Daily Telegraph: "RITA HUNTER…was much
feted as Brünnhilde in performances of Wagner's Ring cycle given
by the English National Opera at the London Coliseum in 1970s;
she was a soprano possessed of a large voice - and corresponding
physique-and an appreciable acting ability. Her work is preserved
in the complete ENO recording of the Ring... in the process
of being reissued, and on various solo recitals. She was appointed
CBE in 1980."
For the whole obituary see the website: http://www.dailytelegraph.co.uk
(type Rita Hunter into the search box).
From the London Times: "Blessed with a glorious voice
that could fill the largest of auditoriums unaided... Rita Hunter
was one of the most celebrated yet unjustly underrated of the
large ladies of the opera house. Her soprano was voluminous,
rock-steady throughout the range and had a slightly metallic
edge reminiscent of her one-time teacher, Eva Turner. For all
its Wagnerian power, her voice was always flexible and agile,
enabling her to sing Norma and such Mozart roles as Donna Anna
and Marcellina with impressive ease."
For the whole obituary see the website: www.thetimes.co.uk
(type Rita Hunter into the search box)
The following letter was also published in The London Times:
"[You] referred to her dramatic last-minute appearance
at Covent Garden in May 1972 to sing the role of Senta in The
Flying Dutchman….this was in fact her debut at Covent
Garden, a fact not lost on the audience, who cheered and applauded
the announcement with cries of: "About time too!"
The fact that she had so little time…coming on stage cold
after seven years away from the role, and carried off the performance
magnificently, led to many curtain calls."
- DESMOND TILLYER
There is an obituary in
the Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/news/0105/01/features/features13.html
and a website devoted to Rita's life & career:
http://www.users.on.net/~msthomas/
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