Burgess, Sally (1953- )

South African-born British mezzo-soprano. She studied at the Royal College of Music in London and joined the English National Opera Ensemble in 1977, at first as a soprano (singing Mimi, Pamina, and Martinů's Juliette) then from 1981 as a mezzo-soprano: she has sung Charlotte, Octavian, and Nefertiti in Akhnaten by Philip Glass (1985). She has also sung Carmen and Amneris for Opera North and Fricka and Annius for Scottish Opera; her vivid stage presence makes her a favourite in such items as the Paul McCartney/Carl Davis Liverpool Oratorio and Show Boat.