Image reproduced courtesy of University of Pennsylvania
http://www.library.upenn.edu/collections/rbm/keffer/b25n64.html

Who was Anna Bishop?

Anna Bishop was a 19th Century English opera singer who was married to the then ‘very famous’ Sir Henry Bishop. He was called ‘the English Mozart’, wrote a great deal of music and was appointed Professor of Music at Oxford University. Sir Henry’s most famous musical composition was ‘Home Sweet Home’, a song much loved by Australian opera singers Dame Nellie Melba and Dame Joan Sutherland. You can see his tomb at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8181&pt=Sir%20Henry%20Rowley%20Bishop

In 1839 Anna Bishop fell passionately in love with the French harpist and director of the King’s Theatre in London, Nicholas Bochsa. She created a major scandal by leaving her ‘very famous’ husband and touring the world with her new, 'very passionate' lover. Everywhere they went they gave concerts. He played the harp and she sang.

In December 1855, at the height of the NSW gold rushes, Bishop and Bochsa arrived in Sydney. Obviously they intended to tour the goldfields of NSW and Victoria and expected, like other performers who visited Australia at about the same time, to make a fortune for themselves. They gave one concert in Sydney but then Bochsa died. Bochsa’s ‘Requiem’ was played at his own funeral.

Why is she remembered in Camperdown Cemetery?
As you can imagine, Anna Bishop was heart-broken. Unfortunately her lover had died. The weeping statue of herself which she erected on Bochsa’s tomb has been badly vandalised, but you can still see the wreath she is holding and the stone tree which originally had a harp attached to it. Make sure you read the description she placed on Bochsa’s tomb:

Never more shall float such music
None could ever sweep the lyre like him!

(Note: lyre is another name for harp)

After leaving Sydney, Anna Bishop continued to sing her way around the world. Hrhusband in England died 3 months after Bochsa died in Sydney and so Anna Bishop was free to marry again. This time her new husband was a 'very rich' New York diamond merchant. You will find his name at the University of Pennsylvania site.

Prepared by Geoff Ostling in May 2003. If you have a picture of Anna Bishop or further information about her please contact Geoff Ostling

More photos of Nicholas Bochsa's tomb:
Inscription on the tomb || front view || the broken tree.

More information on Nicholas Bochsa