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Sara Flower
Sara Elizabeth Flower (21 October 1820–20 August 1865) was a British-born contralto singer who became Australia's first opera star. She began a musical career in London in the 1840s before emigrating to Australia in 1849. In 1852, she appeared in Sydney in the first production in Australia of Bellini's opera Norma.
Sara Elizabeth Flower was born in the English market town of Grays, Essex, situated on the River Thames at the edge of the Tilbury marshes. In 1821, Grays had a population of 742, supporting six public houses. Flower's maternal grandfather, Daniel Granger, owned The Rising Sun public house. The nearby Belmont Castle was a strong influence on regional music.
Flower's father was William Lewis Flower (c.1800-1847), recorded in the Essex Directory in 1823 as a draper, grocer, and Phoenix Fire & Life agent. To claim the status of a gentleman, he later stated he had "no occupation" once his daughter gained admittance to the Royal Academy of Music in 1841.
Robert Flower (c.1779-1832), Flower's uncle, was a foreman of the local brickworks in 1824. He was described as a yeoman in local parish records from 1817, and likely came from an earlier lineage of tenant farmers or small proprietors. This drop in social status was likely caused by changes brought about by the enclosure movement after the Napoleonic Wars.
Her mother, Ruth Flower, was the daughter of local Grays publican, Daniel Granger. Little is known about her, though she may have been the prototype for the mother of a fictional opera singer whose sad fate stood prophetically foretold in Alice Diehl's first published novel, Garden of Eden.
Flower had a brother, believed to be George Flower (died 16 July 1890), manager of the Commercial Bank in Muswellbrook c. 1867–1890, whose earlier occupation is not known.
Flower had an older sister named Elizabeth, a soprano who also pursued a singing career. During the 1840s, the sisters gained recognition for their performances as a duo, often appearing in concerts in London. They sang to much acclaim, and Sara especially was noted for her remarkable voice. In 1847, Elizabeth married a prominent lawyer called Timms Augustine Sargood and subsequently withdrew from public life. Nevertheless, the couple hosted a musical circle in the 1860s at their home in London's Bloomsbury district (Gordon Square). Guests included concert pianist Diehl, whom Elizabeth recounted in two autobiographical works.
Sara and Elizabeth were frequently mistaken for Sarah Fuller Flower Adams and Eliza Flower, the daughters of the political writer Benjamin Flower who were also known for their talents as a poet and a composer, respectively. This confusion persisted throughout Sara's life and even after her death. Although there is no evidence establishing a connection between the two families, there were notable similarities in their economic, social, and regional backgrounds.
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Sara Flower
Sara Elizabeth Flower (21 October 1820–20 August 1865) was a British-born contralto singer who became Australia's first opera star. She began a musical career in London in the 1840s before emigrating to Australia in 1849. In 1852, she appeared in Sydney in the first production in Australia of Bellini's opera Norma.
Sara Elizabeth Flower was born in the English market town of Grays, Essex, situated on the River Thames at the edge of the Tilbury marshes. In 1821, Grays had a population of 742, supporting six public houses. Flower's maternal grandfather, Daniel Granger, owned The Rising Sun public house. The nearby Belmont Castle was a strong influence on regional music.
Flower's father was William Lewis Flower (c.1800-1847), recorded in the Essex Directory in 1823 as a draper, grocer, and Phoenix Fire & Life agent. To claim the status of a gentleman, he later stated he had "no occupation" once his daughter gained admittance to the Royal Academy of Music in 1841.
Robert Flower (c.1779-1832), Flower's uncle, was a foreman of the local brickworks in 1824. He was described as a yeoman in local parish records from 1817, and likely came from an earlier lineage of tenant farmers or small proprietors. This drop in social status was likely caused by changes brought about by the enclosure movement after the Napoleonic Wars.
Her mother, Ruth Flower, was the daughter of local Grays publican, Daniel Granger. Little is known about her, though she may have been the prototype for the mother of a fictional opera singer whose sad fate stood prophetically foretold in Alice Diehl's first published novel, Garden of Eden.
Flower had a brother, believed to be George Flower (died 16 July 1890), manager of the Commercial Bank in Muswellbrook c. 1867–1890, whose earlier occupation is not known.
Flower had an older sister named Elizabeth, a soprano who also pursued a singing career. During the 1840s, the sisters gained recognition for their performances as a duo, often appearing in concerts in London. They sang to much acclaim, and Sara especially was noted for her remarkable voice. In 1847, Elizabeth married a prominent lawyer called Timms Augustine Sargood and subsequently withdrew from public life. Nevertheless, the couple hosted a musical circle in the 1860s at their home in London's Bloomsbury district (Gordon Square). Guests included concert pianist Diehl, whom Elizabeth recounted in two autobiographical works.
Sara and Elizabeth were frequently mistaken for Sarah Fuller Flower Adams and Eliza Flower, the daughters of the political writer Benjamin Flower who were also known for their talents as a poet and a composer, respectively. This confusion persisted throughout Sara's life and even after her death. Although there is no evidence establishing a connection between the two families, there were notable similarities in their economic, social, and regional backgrounds.
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