Sara Elizabeth Flower (21 October 1820 – 20 August 1865) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

-born

contralto A contralto () is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female voice type. The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare; similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typically b ...

singer who became

Australia's Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by a ...

first

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

star. She began a musical career in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

during the 1840s before emigrating to Australia in late 1849. In 1852, she appeared in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

in the first production in Australia of Bellini's opera ''

Norma Norma may refer to: * Norma (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) Astronomy *Norma (constellation) * 555 Norma, a minor asteroid *Cygnus Arm or Norma Arm, a spiral arm in the Milky Way galaxy Geography *Norma, Lazi ...

''.

Life

Flower was born in the English market town of

Grays, Essex Grays (or Grays Thurrock) is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex, England. The town which is both a former civil parish and one of Thurrock's traditional Church of England parishes is located on the north ...

, situated on the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...

at the edge of the

Tilbury Tilbury is a port town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. The present town was established as separate settlement in the late 19th century, on land that was mainly part of Chadwell St Mary. It contains a 16th century fort and an ancie ...

marshes. In 1821, Grays had a population of 742, supporting six

public house A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...

s. The Rising Sun public house was owned by Flower's maternal grandfather, Daniel Granger. The nearby

Belmont Castle Belmont Castle was a Gothic Revival architecture, neo-Gothic mansion near Grays, Essex, Grays in the England, English county of Essex. Built c. 1795 to designs by the little-known Thomas Jeffery, and surrounded by extensive pleasure grounds, it ...

was a strong influence on regional music.

Family

Sara's father was William Lewis Flower (c.1800-1847), who was recorded in the ''Essex Directory'' in 1823 as being a

draper Draper was originally a term for a retailer or wholesaler of cloth that was mainly for clothing. A draper may additionally operate as a cloth merchant or a haberdasher. History Drapers were an important trade guild during the medieval period ...

, grocer, and agent for Phoenix Fire & Life. In order to claim the status of gentleman, he later stated that he had 'no occupation' when his daughter was admitted to the

Royal Academy of Music The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, England, is the oldest conservatoire in the UK, founded in 1822 by John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. It received its royal charter in 1830 from King George IV with the support of the first Duke of ...

in 1841. Sara's uncle, Robert Flower (c.1779-1832), was a foreman of the local brick works in 1824. As he was described as a

yeoman Yeoman is a noun originally referring either to one who owns and cultivates land or to the middle ranks of servants in an English royal or noble household. The term was first documented in mid-14th-century England. The 14th century also witn ...

in local parish records from 1817, he likely came from an earlier lineage of tenant farmers or small proprietors. This drop in social status likely came from changes brought about by the

enclosure Enclosure or Inclosure is a term, used in English landownership, that refers to the appropriation of "waste" or " common land" enclosing it and by doing so depriving commoners of their rights of access and privilege. Agreements to enclose land ...

movement after the

Napoleonic Wars The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...

. Her mother, Ruth Flower, was the daughter of local Grays

publican In antiquity, publicans (Greek τελώνης ''telōnēs'' (singular); Latin ''publicanus'' (singular); ''publicani'' (plural)) were public contractors, in whose official capacity they often supplied the Roman legions and military, managed the ...

Daniel Granger. Little is known about her, but she may have been the prototype for the mother of a fictional opera singer whose sad fate she prophetically foretells in

Alice Diehl Alice Diehl (25 February 1844 – 13 June 1912) was an English musician and novelist. She changed in 1872 from being a concert pianist into being a writer – of music reviews, some 50 novels and several other books. Family and career Alice Dieh ...

's first published novel, ''Garden of Eden''. Sara's elder sister Elizabeth also became a public singer as a soprano. Both sisters developed a considerable concert career in the 1840s, performing often as a duo regionally and in London. They sang to much acclaim, and Sara especially was noted for her startling voice. In 1847, Elizabeth married a prominent lawyer called Timms Augustine Sargood and withdrew from public life. At their home in London's

Bloomsbury Bloomsbury is a district in the West End of London. It is considered a fashionable residential area, and is the location of numerous cultural, intellectual, and educational institutions. Bloomsbury is home of the British Museum, the largest mus ...

district (

Gordon Square Gordon Square is a public park square in Bloomsbury, London, England. It is part of the Bedford Estate and was designed as one of a pair with the nearby Tavistock Square. It is owned by the University of London. History and buildings The sq ...

), she and her husband were the hosts of a musical circle in the 1860s, however. Guests included concert pianist Diehl, who Elizabeth recounted in two autobiographical works. Sara and Elizabeth were frequently confused with

Sarah Fuller Flower Adams Sarah Fuller Flower Adams (or Sally Adams) (22 February 1805 – 14 August 1848) was an English poet and hymnwriter. A selection of hymns she wrote, published by William Johnson Fox, included her best-known one, "Nearer, My God, to Thee", report ...

and

Eliza Flower Eliza Flower (1803 – 12 December 1846) was a British musician and composer. In addition to her own work, Flower became known for her friendships including those with William Johnson Fox, Robert Browning, John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor. B ...

, who were daughters of political writer

Benjamin Flower Benjamin Flower (1755 – 17 February 1829) was an English radical journalist and political writer, and a vocal opponent of his country's involvement in the early stages of the Napoleonic Wars. Early life He was born in London, the son of a pro ...

and respectively acclaimed as a poet and composer in their own right. This confusion persisted throughout Sara's life and after her death. No connection between the two families has been established, but there were notable similarities in economic, social, and regional backgrounds.

Education and training

From late October 1841, Flower was trained at the Royal Academy of Music (R.A.M) under

Domenico Crivelli Domenico Francesco Maria Crivelli (1793/1796 – 31 December 1856), often referred to simply as ''Signor Crivelli'' was an Italian born English opera singer and singing teacher. Career He was born in Lombardy, Italy, and came to England in 1 ...

(1794–1857). Domenico was educated by his father, singer

Gaetano Crivelli Gaetano Crivelli (20 October 1768 – 16 July 1836) was a celebrated Italian tenor. Although he was born not actually in Bergamo but in neighbouring Brescia, Crivelli can be regarded as one of the founders of that remarkable Bergamo tenor schoo ...

(1774–1836), in techniques of Italian castrati such as the exploitation of falsetto. This may account for Flower's protean ability to cross the entire range of the operatic singing voice. In Bellini's ''Norma'', her range spread from the dramatic soprano of Norma to the mezzo of Analgias, in addition to the tenor role of Pollioni.

Early career

Flower first came to public notice within the Psalmody Movement of the 1830s and 40s in London. The movement was associated with such names as

Sarah Ann Glover Sarah Anna Glover (13 November 1786 – 20 October 1867) was an English music educator who invented the Norwich sol-fa system. Her Sol-fa system was based on the ancient gamut; but she omitted the constant recital of the alphabetical names of ...

John Hullah John Pyke Hullah (27 June 1812 – 21 February 1884) was an English composer and teacher of music, whose promotion of vocal training is associated with the singing-class movement. Life and career Hullah was born at Worcester. He was a pupil ...

and

John Curwen John Curwen (14 November 1816 – 26 May 1880) was an English Congregationalist minister and diffuser of the tonic sol-fa system of music education created by Sarah Ann Glover. He was educated at Wymondley College in Hertfordshire, then Cowar ...

. It had strong Independent, or Congregationalist non-conformist religious leanings, and a powerful

utilitarian In ethical philosophy, utilitarianism is a family of normative ethical theories that prescribe actions that maximize happiness and well-being for all affected individuals. Although different varieties of utilitarianism admit different charac ...

sociology. On 4 November 1839, the ''Musical World'' noted that Sara and her sister had both appeared at a lecture given at the Hoxton National School Room in inner North London by Charles Henry Purday (1799–1885), known for his theories on 'The Proper Object of Music'. Flower was believed to be connected with John Hullah's classes in London's

Exeter Hall Exeter Hall was a large public meeting place on the north side of the Strand in central London, opposite where the Savoy Hotel now stands. From 1831 until 1907 Exeter Hall was the venue for many great gatherings by promoters of human bettermen ...

. Flower was also believed to be associated with "Music for the Million", the singing school of

Joseph Mainzer Joseph Mainzer (21 October 1801 – 10 November 1851) was a German music teacher, who spent the last period of his life in the United Kingdom, promoting a vision of choral singing for the masses, as part of the singing-class movement. Life Bor ...

(1801–1851), which had been modeled on the monitorial method of Guillaume Louis Bocquillon Wilhem 781–1842and his 'Orphéon' choral fests for teaching often illiterate working people to sight-sing from notation sheets as a non-conformist socio-religious project to revitalize music education in the Anglican Church. Contrary to conjecture around deeper links to non-conformism and/or the Psalmody Movement, a post-1847 Flower family memorial plaque on the walls of the Grays parish church of St Peter and St Paul does not suggest any powerful non-conformist link, nor does her R.A.M. career under the dictatorial rule of its President, John Fane, Lord Burghersh (1784–1859).

British professional career

Around 4 November 1839 she assisted C. H. Purday in presenting a lecture titled "The Proper Object of Music" at the Hoxton National School Room, London. On 29 October 1841 she was admitted to the

, London as a student of singing. Her operatic debut was on 7 January 1843 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, as the peasant Pippo, in Macready's concert version of Rossini's ''

La gazza ladra ''La gazza ladra'' (, ''The Thieving Magpie'') is a ''melodramma'' or opera semiseria in two acts by Gioachino Rossini, with a libretto by Giovanni Gherardini based on ''La pie voleuse'' by Théodore Baudouin d'Aubigny and Louis-Charles Caigni ...

'', starring Sabilla Novello as Annette. She would reprise that role with full orchestra at the

Princess's Theatre The Princess's Theatre or Princess Theatre was a theatre in Oxford Street Oxford Street is a major road in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, running from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch via Oxford Circus. It is Europ ...

with

Emma Albertazzi Emma Albertazzi (1 May 1815 – 25 September 1847), born Emma Howson, was an English operatic contralto. Gänzl, Kurt"Emma Albertazzi. The facts ... and not the fictions" Kurt of Gerolstein, 20 May 2019 She began her opera career in Italy, France ...

as Annette from 17 July the same year, having in that theatre from 17 April 1843 appeared in Rossini's ''

Tancredi ''Tancredi'' is a ''melodramma eroico'' ('' opera seria'' or heroic opera) in two acts by composer Gioachino Rossini and librettist Gaetano Rossi (who was also to write ''Semiramide'' ten years later), based on Voltaire's play ''Tancrède'' (176 ...

'' in the name role. She played Adina in Donizetti's ''

L'elisir d'amore ''L'elisir d'amore'' (''The Elixir of Love'', ) is a ' (opera buffa) in two acts by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. Felice Romani wrote the Italian libretto, after Eugène Scribe's libretto for Daniel Auber's ' (1831). The opera premiere ...

'', from 11 October 1843 with

Paul Bedford Paul John Bedford (1792?–1871), was an English comedian. Life & career Bedford states, in his gossiping book of '' Recollections and Wanderings'', that he was born in Bath, and entered upon the stage through the customary portal of amate ...

as Dulcamara, and

Rebecca Isaacs Rebecca Isaacs (26 June 1828–21 April 1877) was an operatic soprano of the mid-19th century who was the Directress of Operas at the Strand Theatre and who created the role of Leila in '' Satanella'' at the Royal Opera House in 1858. Born ...

as Floretta. She made a few appearances on the concert stage, then left for

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

to further her studies. On her return to London she made a series of appearances at the Princess's Theatre: as Bertha

Edward Loder Edward James Loder (10 July 1809 – 5 April 1865) was an English composer and conductor. His best remembered work is perhaps the 1855 opera ''Raymond and Agnes'', though his most successful opera during his lifetime was ''The Night Dancers''. ...

's ''Night Dancers'', with

as Giselle from 28 October 1846, and Ernestine in

George Rodwell George Herbert Buonaparte Rodwell (1800–1852) was an English composer, musical director, and author. Life The brother of James Thomas Gooderham Rodwell (died 1825), playwright and lessee of London's Adelphi Theatre, was born in London, 15 Novem ...

's ''Seven Maids of Munich'' from 19 December 1846. Donizetti's ''Anna Bolena'' as Smeaton followed on 12 January 1847, starring Louisa Bassano in the name part, Mendelssohn's ''Midsummer Night's Dream'' as Oberon from 23 April 1847, and as Donna Olympia in Loder's ''The Young Guard'', starring

Anna Thillon Sophie Anne Hunt, known by the name of Anna Thillon (Calcutta or London, 1812 or 1813 or 22 June 1817 or circa 1819; Torquay, 5 May 1903), was an operatic singing sensation in the United States, based in San Francisco, California and then New Yor ...

from 20 January 1848. Flower took part in several concerts at the

Surrey Zoological Gardens Royal Surrey Gardens were pleasure gardens in Newington, Surrey, London in the Victorian period, slightly east of The Oval. The gardens occupied about to the east side of Kennington Park Road, including a lake of about . It was the site of Sur ...

Louis-Antoine Jullien Louis George Maurice Adolphe Roche Albert Abel Antonio Alexandre Noë Jean Lucien Daniel Eugène Joseph-le-brun Joseph-Barême Thomas Thomas Thomas-Thomas Pierre Arbon Pierre-Maurel Barthélemi Artus Alphonse Bertrand Dieudonné Emanuel Josué V ...

's ''Concerts Monstre'' on 24 July 1848 and 28 September 1848. Around this time she was a member of the ''corps musicale'' attending the ninth reunion of the General Theatrical Fund held at the

London Tavern The City of London Tavern or London Tavern was a notable meeting place in London during the 18th and 19th centuries. A place of business where people gathered to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, the tavern was situated in Bishopsgate ...

, Bishopsgate Street, chaired by Sir

Edward Bulwer-Lytton Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton, PC (25 May 180318 January 1873) was an English writer and politician. He served as a Whig member of Parliament from 1831 to 1841 and a Conservative from 1851 to 1866. He was Secret ...

and supported by

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

. She emigrated to Australia on the migrant ship ''Clifton'', which left London on 14 November 1849.

Life in Australia

''Clifton'', of 867 tons, E. W. Beasley, commander, from London the largest of three emigrant ships chartered by

John Dunmore Lang John Dunmore Lang (25 August 1799 – 8 August 1878) was a Scottish-born Australian Presbyterian minister, writer, historian, politician and activist. He was the first prominent advocate of an independent Australian nation and of Australian re ...

, arrived in Port Phillip with some 200 emigrants, mostly from Evangelical Churches. Lang was one of the 20-odd named cabin passengers, and it must be assumed Flower travelled in

steerage Steerage is a term for the lowest category of passenger accommodation in a ship. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century considerable numbers of persons travelled from their homeland to seek a new life elsewhere, in many cases North America ...

. Her first Australian performance was in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, at the Mechanics' Institute on 28 February 1850, for Reed. This was advertised as her only Melbourne appearance, as she was to continue to Sydney aboard ''Clifton'', but was persuaded to appear again for Reed at the Queen's Theatre on 26 March and proceed to Sydney aboard ''Asia''. She was to join her brother, believed to be George Flower (died 16 July 1890), manager of the Commercial Bank in

Muswellbrook Muswellbrook ( ) is a town in the Upper Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, about north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle. Geologically, Muswellbrook is situated in the northern parts of the Sydney basin, bordering the New Englan ...

c. 1867–1890. but whose earlier occupation has not been found. She arrived on 15 April 1850 and made her first Sydney appearance at the Victoria Theatre on 3 May 1850 for S. and H. Marsh. Sara Flower married Samuel Howard Taylor of Sydney on 20 December 1851. He turned to the stage in 1855 as Sam Howard, low comedian. She was the first

in Australia. Two characters in which she made a great impression were Azucena in ''

Il trovatore ''Il trovatore'' ('The Troubadour') is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto largely written by Salvadore Cammarano, based on the play ''El trovador'' (1836) by Antonio García Gutiérrez. It was García Gutiérrez's mos ...

'' and Maffio Orsini in ''

Lucrezia Borgia Lucrezia Borgia (; ca-valencia, Lucrècia Borja, links=no ; 18 April 1480 – 24 June 1519) was a Spanish-Italian noblewoman of the House of Borgia who was the daughter of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei. She reigned as the Govern ...

.''

Later Years

She suffered from rheumatism, and in her last years was unable even to take students. She died, destitute but proud, at her residence, 137 Victoria Street, Woolloomooloo on 20 August 1865 and her body was interred at the old Devonshire Street Cemetery on the following day; a single coach carried her mourners. Her remains were later transferred to the new cemetery at La Perouse, where a monument was placed on her grave be a group of enthusiasts.

Voice

Various British and Australian newspaper reports of the period describe Flower's voice and vocal affect with terms such as volume; melody; compass; resonance; sonorousness; simplicity; cultivation; powerful; exquisite; flexible; rich; full; distinct; nervous; rare; delicious; sweet; mellow; liquid; welling; gushing; wonderful; expressive; clear; enchanting; perfect; delightful; wonderful; extraordinary; thrilling; electrifying; melancholy; noble; pure; magnificent; splendid; glorious; astonishing; commanding; great; masterly; force of expression; sensation; harmony; charm; liveliness; ease; heart-pathos; depth of feeling; emotional power; tenderness; a host in itself; divine; beyond praise; heaven; a treasure; the great contralto. On 7 January 1843, Sara Flower made her anonymous London debut in a opera at

Drury Lane Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster. Notable landmarks ...

as an all-but non-singing Felix (Pippo) to Sabilla Novello's Annette (the youngest daughter of music publisher

Vincent Novello Vincent Novello (6 September 17819 August 1861), was an English musician and music publisher born in London. He was a chorister and organist, but he is best known for bringing to England many works now considered standards, and with his son he cr ...

) in a hybrid Macready production of Rossini's opera ''

'' (''The Thieving Magpie''). The opera was characterized as 'little more than a melodrama with a few airs interspersed'. A review on Sara's

recitative Recitative (, also known by its Italian name "''recitativo''" ()) is a style of delivery (much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms and delivery of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repea ...

introduction in a duet role with Annette in 'Ebben per mia' reported her positive reception:

'her notes were so exceedingly full and rich, her articulation so admirable, rare qualities in an English singer of recitative, that the audience were literally taken by surprise, and uttered loud and continuous applause, which was frequently reiterated as the very superior quality of her voice was exhibited in the course of the duet'.''The Times'' 'Drury Lane Theatre', 9 January 1843, p.4f.

The reviewer described her voice then as 'a mezzo-soprano of singular volume, with some excellent contralto notes, which she touches with firmness'. The unusual review went beyond the norm of describing the voice to also cover the reaction of an audience which cried out spontaneously over a few bars of recitative. Contemporary London comment associated Flower's voice with that of Marietta Brambilla (1807–1875) as possessing a 'contralto voice of ..delicious voluptuous quality'. Six years later in Australia, Flower's voice was described as being "like one of those boy-voices that one meets with once in one's life and remembers for ever after, so clear, so full, and nervous, and of such volume and compass".''Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH''), 'Parramatta Concert', 8 July 1850, p. 3a.

Notes and references

*Beedell, A.V. 2000, 'Terminal Silence: Sara Flower and the Diva Enigma: Explorations of Voice and the Maternal in Operatic Experience in Colonial Australian History ca. 1850-1865' in 2 volumes. PhD Faculty of Arts, Griffith University, Queensland. *Diehl, Alice

897 __NOTOC__ Year 897 ( DCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Spring – King Lambert II travels to Rome with his mother, Queen Ageltr ...

''Musical Memories'', (London) *Diehl, Alice

905 __NOTOC__ Year 905 ( CMV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Spring – King Berengar I of Italy arranges a truce with the Hungarians, on p ...

''The True Story of My Life. An Autobiography'', (London) *''Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' 1961, 5th ed. edited by Eric Blom (London, Macmillan) *Gyger, Alison
"Flower, Sara Elizabeth"
''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', Online Edition (accessed 18 January 2010) *''Musical World'' (London 1836-91) *Poizat, Michel 1992, ''The Angel's Cry. Beyond the Pleasure Principle in Opera'', trans. Arthur Denner (Ithaca and London) *Rainbow, Bernarr 1970, ''The Choral Revival in the Anglican Church (1839–1872)''. (London, Barrie & Jenkins) *Stendhal (Henri Beyle) 1956

824 __NOTOC__ Year 824 ( DCCCXXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * November 11 – The '' Constitutio Romana'' establishes the authority of the ...

''Life of Rossini'' trans. Richard N. Coe, London *''Times, The'' (London)

External references

* 'Cowgill, Rachel and Peter Holman 2007, ''Music in the British Provinces 1690-1914 (Ashgate)' * 'Thurrock Heritage - Factfiles lice Diehl www.thurrock.gov.uk/heritage * https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/arts/display/21784-sara-flower {{DEFAULTSORT:Flower, Sara 1820 births 1865 deaths 19th-century British women opera singers Operatic contraltos English contraltos People from Grays, Essex Musicians from Essex 19th-century Australian women opera singers British emigrants to Australia