Hunter, Rita (Nellie)
Hunter, Rita (Nellie)
Hunter, Rita (Nellie), distinguished English soprano; b. Wallasey, Aug. 15, 1933. She studied with Edwin Francis in Liverpool and with Clive Carey and Redvers Llewellyn in London, then sang in the Sadler’s Wells chorus (1954–56) before touring with the Carl Rosa Opera Co. (1956–58). After further studies with Dame Eva Turner, she joined the Sadler’s Wells Opera (1959), singing leading roles there from 1965, including Brünnhilde in the English-language version of Die Walküre (June 29, 1970). She later sang Brünnhilde in the first complete English-language version of the Ring cycle (July-Aug. 1973). On Dec. 19, 1972, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. as Brünnhilde; appeared as Norma at the San Francisco Opera in 1975. Her other notable roles included Donna Anna, Aida, Senta, and Santuzza. In 1980 she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She publ, an autobiography, Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie (London, 1986).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire