ZANTEN, Cornelie Van

Wijntje Cornelia van Zanten was a Dutch opera singer, singing teacher and author. She sang both mezzo-soprano and alto. She studied at the conservatory of Cologne, among others, and then continued her studies in Milan under Francesco Lamperti. In September 1875 she made her debut in Turin, singing the role of Leonora in Donizetti's opera La Favorita. In 1879 she left Italy for Germany, where she sang at the opera of Breslau, Kassel (with Gustav Mahler as conductor) and Hamburg. During her German period she also composed a number of Lieder, including Mijn Moedertaal ("My Mother Tongue") in 1881. Her book Bel Canto des Wortes: Lehre der Stimmbeherschung durch das Wort (1911) was considered a standard work for the teaching of classical singing.