Photo: David Whitbread
Anna Bishop was a "bad girl" of opera, but she did a lot of good for women.
When it was not the done thing for women to organise their own affairs, Bishop broke the unwritten rules and blazed a trail for female opera singers.
Born in 1810 in London, Bishop was one of the first opera singers to tour the world.
Her adventures have become the subject of a one-woman show by Australian soprano Sarahlouise Owens. Opera's Bad Girl: Anna Bishop is part of this year's Nelson Fringe Festival.
Owens spoke to RNZ Concert about the show, and some of Bishop's adventures, which included being shipwrecked on an island in the Pacific.
Owens will be accompanied by Nelson-based pianist Andrew Ward.
