In a letter to the editor, a reader recalls the early operatic promise of the late Dame Felicity Lott. Around 1970, the reader was performing in a production of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta Princess Ida with an amateur group in central London. The musical director, Peter Shave, was able to invite aspiring music students to fill the most demanding parts. On this occasion, Felicity Lott was cast in the title role.
Despite her relative inexperience at the time, her voice and manner were completely right for the part. The reader likes to think that this experience helped persuade her that operatic work was something she could excel in. This letter serves as a testament to her early talent and the impact she had on those who performed alongside her.
