Saturday Salon: Opera's Bad Girl

Before Melba, there was Anna Bishop — opera’s original rebel!

Opera’s Bad Girl is the exciting true-life story of a fearless Victorian woman who carved her own artistic career, defying polite society and touring the globe with her genius harpist lover. She charmed Europe’s royalty and sang to packed houses around the world, surviving shipwreck, epidemics, tiger attack and boom-bust fortunes. Sarahlouise Owens and Lucus Allerton bring Anna’s wild, untold story to life in this unforgettable show.

Reviews
“… A perfect evening of theatre… Everything was exquisite: the singing, the script, the humour…it all worked so beautifully well…
… A thoroughly entertaining, brilliantly presented tour de force …” – Arts Review Bill Stephens

About the Artists
Sarahlouise Owens – Soprano
A graduate of Australian National University (Hons.) and RNCM Manchester, she has worked in noted international theatres such as Frankfurt, Hagen, Hannover, Paris Chatelet, Brussels La Monnaie, most notably in the Bayreuth Wagner Festival over several years. She is a sought after soloist in Canberra having sung with many local choirs. She also formed an early music ensemble and Opera in a Nutshell. She is passionate about Art Song and championing women composers, and performs regular solo concerts. Having learnt of Anna Bishop’s life, she’s not looked back.

Lucus Allerton – Piano
Lucus Allerton graduated with First-Class Honours in Piano mid-2013. In 2012, he won the Margaret Smiles Accompaniment Prize (and in 2010 won the prize for Best Vocal Accompanist), and in 2013, reached the Finals of the Sydney Eisteddfod’s Victoria Jennifer Warren Piano Accompaniment Award. He accompanies singers across Canberra, both choirs and soloists.