Description

CATO ENGELEN-SEWING (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS 27. 1. 1868 – AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS 16. 12. 1961)

 

 

 

 

She was a celebrated soprano known for her impressive career across Europe and her contributions to opera and teaching.

Early Training:

• Education: Sewing studied singing at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam under the tutelage of Mme Collin-Tobisch and Johannes Messchaert. She further honed her skills with Knudson in Berlin.

Opera Career:

• Dutch Opera Debut: In 1890, she made her debut at the Dutch Opera as Maritana in Massenet’s Don César de Bazan. Her performance established her as the leading prima donna of the opera house, where she remained until 1898.
• Court Theater in Hannover: From 1898 to 1901, Sewing performed at the Court Theater in Hannover.
• Theater des Westens, Berlin: In 1901, she appeared at the Theater des Westens in Berlin, notably performing the role of the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.
• Return to Dutch Opera: She rejoined the Dutch Opera in 1901, breaking her five-year contract with Hannover. She continued to perform with the Dutch Opera until 1903.
• Opera of Antwerp: During the 1903-1904 season, Sewing worked with the Opera of Antwerp.
• Dutch Opera Societies: From 1904 to 1915, she performed with various Dutch opera societies.

Personal Life and Later Career:

• Marriage: Sewing was married to opera manager Henri Engelen.
• Teaching: From 1915 to 1939, she taught singing in Antwerp. Afterward, she returned to Holland.
• Later Performances: At the age of 74, she performed a concert in Amsterdam. Up to her 80th year, she was actively involved with a music choir in Amsterdam.

Chronology of some appearances

 

1890-1898 Dutch Opera

1898-1901 Hannover Court Theater

1901 Berlin Theater des Westens

1901 Dutch Opera

1903-1904 Antwerp Opera

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Mignon (Thomas) Titania aria 30027 Pathé cylinders & discs, Amsterdam 1903?
2. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Kleine ballade 30027 Pathé cylinders & discs, Amsterdam 1903?
3. Faust (Gounod) Juweelen-aria 30024 Pathé cylinders & discs, Amsterdam 1903?
4. Mignon (Thomas) Titania aria 30189 Pathé cylinders & discs, Amsterdam 1903?
5. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Duo, act 2 (w. Urlus) 30235 Pathé cylinders & discs, Amsterdam 1903?
6. Lohengrin (Wagner) Duo, act 2 (w. Urlus) 30232 Pathé cylinders & discs, Amsterdam 1903?
7. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Duo (E allor perchè) (w. Orelio) 1944 -03999- Anker, Amsterdam 1910?
8. Hamlet (Thomas): Twijfel aan het licht der zon (Doute de la lumière) (w. Orelio) 1944 -03998- Anker, Amsterdam 1910?
9. Lohengrin (Wagner): Uw luchten (Euch Lüfte die mein Klagen) 2059 -05847- Anker, Amsterdam 1913?
10. Tannhäuser (Wagner): U tref ik hier (w. van Nieuwenhuizen) 2059 Anker, Amsterdam 1913?
11. Trovatore (Verdi): Zephir verhoort mijn klagen (D’amor sull’ali rosee) 2064 -05857- Anker, Amsterdam 1913?