Her first appearance in opera was as Buttercup in 'HMS Pinafore' at the age of fourteen and from then on she wanted to be a singer.

Rita Hunter will be remembered as one of the major Wagnerian sopranos of the later 20th century, especially for her performances as Brünnhilde in the Ring cycle conducted by Reginald Goodall at the English National Opera. In this production she was partnered by Alberto Remedios, who had studied singing at the same time as Hunter in Liverpool with Edwin Francis, as Siegfried, and Norman Bailey as Wotan. The recordings based on this production, with the same artistes, are regarded as amongst the finest available, even though they are sung, in accordance with ENO traditions, in English.

The performances shot Rita Hunter as Brunnhilde to superstardom. Her radiant, glowing voice overcame any resistance to her unromantic appearance and she became the idol of the Sadler’s Wells Opera audience. Her passionate rapport with Alberto Remedios as Siegfried, (they had first met as singing students on Merseyside), as one commentator recalled ‘nearly set the theatre on fire with its intensity’. The perspex breastplate that Hunter wore as Brunnhilde is now held in the Theatre Museum.

In 1973, it was standing room only when the Sadler’s Wells Opera performed Wagner’s complete Ring cycle in English.

The stunning sci-fi setting shown in this photograph was designed by Ralph Koltai. His sets, all gleaming rods and metallic spheres, with costumes incorporating perspex, and Glen Byam Shaw’s production, created a timeless world in which Wagner’s figures moved with an unusual humanity. It reflected both the 1960s and the Apollo moon landing, as though Tolkien had met Star Wars.

The New York Post, saluting the occasion, wrote, "It is dangerous to predict history, but future opera lovers will no doubt hear to their envy of Saturday night's vocal confrontation between Hunter and Nilsson: The heroic naming of Siegfried and a stupefying 'O Hehrstes Wunder'. Here was gold in a world of dross." Miss Hunter appeared in Berlin under the baton of Lorin Maazel,at the Strasbourg Festival under Alain Lombard and also in France at the St.Cere Festival. At the Edinburgh Festival she sang Verdi's 'Requiem' under Carlo Maria Guilini. She also gave concerts in many Europe's major cities. Miss Hunter's repertoire was extensive and covered roles such as Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Elettra (Idomeneo) and Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana). In addition to the roles of Leonora (Il Trovatore), the title roles in Aida, Norma and Brunnhilde.

Miss Hunter studied in Liverpool with Edwin Francis, a great friend of Eva Turner. Some years later Miss Hunter won the Countess Of Munster Prize which allowed her to study with Eva Turner herself.

She joined Sadler's Wells as a chorister, then in 1957 she moved to the famed Carl Rosa, an old established touring company. Basilica Opera signed her as Leonora for five performances of 'Il Trovatore' after which she returned to her home company, Sadler's Wells (Now the English National Opera) for her appearances in Wagner's 'Ring'.

Amongst Hunter's other teachers was Dame Eva Turner. After touring with the Carl Rosa opera company in the 1950s, she joined the chorus of Sadlers Wells Opera, and later had a variety of roles with them.

In the Glen Byam Shaw Ring production, the quality of Hunter's singing and interpretation enabled audiences to set aside her outsize stature (which conformed to all prejudices about Wagnerian sopranos), and few have matched.

Rita passed away on April 29, 2001 in Sydney, Australia.