Cato Engelen-Sewing (Soprano) (Amsterdam, Netherlands 27. 1. 1868 - Amsterdam, Netherlands 16. 12. 1961)

Her real name was Catharina Dorothea Sewing. She studied singing at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam under Mme Collin-Tobisch and Johannes Messchaert, then with Knudson in Berlin. In 1890 she made her debut at the Dutch Opera as Maritana in ‘’Don César de Bazan’’ of Massenet. She remained the real prima donna of this opera house till 1898. In the 1898-1901 seasons she sang at the Court Theater in Hannover. In 1901 she appeared at the Theater des Westens in Berlin as Queen of the night in ‘’Zauberflöte’’. In 1901 she joined again to the Dutch Opera and it broke her 5-annual contract with Hannover. In the 1903-1904 season she worked at the Opera of Antwerp, then till 1915 at different Dutch opera societies. She was married the opera manager Henri Engelen. In the 1915-1939 years she taught singing in Antwerp, however, came back in 1939 to Holland. At the age of 74 she again gave a concert in Amsterdam. Up to her 80-th she was an active member of the 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

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Pathé cylinders & discs, Amsterdam 1903?
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Kleine ballade  30027
Mignon (Thomas): Titania aria 30027
Faust (Gounod): Juweelen-aria 30204