Trostlos schluchzet Philomele

THE SONGBIRD: Rita Hunter (1933 - 2001) was born in England and studied singing in Liverpool and London (with Eva Turner among others). Her joined Sadlers Wells in 1957 singing in the chorus for two years, while also appearing with the Scottish Opera as Frasquita and Berta. She toured with the Carl Rosa Opera Company and then rejoined Sadlers Wells in principal roles including Senta, Musetta, Odabella, Donna Anna, Amelia, Santuzza, and Verdi's Leonora. Hunter's fame rose when she sang Brünnhilde in Wagner's Ring cycle in English at the English National Opera (over three seasons 1970 - 1973); she repeated the role for her debut at The Met in 1975. She sang Norma in San Francisco and a mix of dramatic roles of Verdi and Wagner in other cities and festivals.

THE MUSIC: "Zaide" is an unfinished opera by Mozart, composed in 1780, but abandoned when a commission for "Idomeneo" came in from Munich. "Zaide" is a singspiel on a Turkish theme, very similar to his "Abduction from the Seraglio" composed in 1782. The music for "Zaide" was discovered by Mozart's wife Constanze several years after his death, among his music manuscripts. Though incomplete, there is still plenty of music, including three arias for the title character, a soprano. Her second aria "Trostlos schluchzet Philomele" is an elegant yet melancholy ode to the princess Philomela, who was transformed into a nightingale after she was raped and murdered by her sister's husband. The source of this performances is a BBC broadcast from 1970 conducted by Charles Mackerras.