Anna Bishop was an operatic soprano who found much success touring the world, and became in the process one of the most widely travelled singers of the nineteenth century. She was born in London on 9 January 1810, the daughter of a singing master. She studied piano under Ignaz Moscheles, then continued her studies at the Royal Academy of Music under Henry Bishop (1786-1855), making her professional London debut on 20 April 1831. She and Bishop, 23 year years her senior, married in July that same year, barely a month after his wife had died. Although they had three children the marriage was an unhappy one, and she eventually left him for a French harpist named Nicolas-Charles Bochsa (1789-1856). The affair was sensationally scandalous and forced Bishop to tour overseas for many years.
Bishop came to Australia three times. In 1856, her first tour, she starred in a musical entertainment written especially for her. Titled Anna Bishop in Australia; or, A Soprano Sfogato, the piece was likely a localised version of Madam Anna Bishop in California. The Australian version premiered at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Sydney on 5 February under the direction of Andrew Torning. She returned to Australia in 1868 and again in 1875 as part of her final world tour (1874-1876).
Bishop's voice was often compared to a flute, and she was also acclaimed for her beauty and elaborate costumes. In terms of her musical legacy she was very much at the forefront of popularising Italian opera around the world. She died in New York City and is buried beside her son Augustus in St Paul's Lutheran Cemetery.
[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
