Henriette Sontag
Encyclopedia
Henriette Sontag was a German
opera
tic soprano
of great international renown. She possessed a sweet-toned, lyrical voice and was a brilliant exponent of florid singing.
as Gertrude Walpurgis Sonntag. She made her début at the age of 15.
In 1823 she sang at Leipzig
in Carl Maria von Weber
's Der Freischütz
and in December of that year created the title role in his Euryanthe
. Her success was immediate, and in 1824 she went to the Königstädter Theater, Berlin
.
She was invited to be the soprano soloist in the first performances of Beethoven
's Symphony No. 9
and Missa Solemnis
on 7 May 1824; she was only 18 years old at the time.
Two years later she sang the part of Rosina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia
, in which her charming personality and fleet coloratura
skills granted her a distinct triumph over the reigning diva, Angelica Catalani
.
In 1827, she was engaged at the Paris Italian Opera
, and a year later married Count Rossi
. She subsequently performed at all the major musical centres of Europe, and in 1852 visited the United States where, among other engagements, she performed in a concert with the violinist Camilla Urso
.
She was hired by the Italian Opera in Mexico, where on May 17 1854, she intoned for the first time the words of the Mexican national anthem
, written by poet Francisco González Bocanegra
. One month later, she was stricken with cholera
and died at the age of 48. Her last appearance, six days before her death, was in the title role of Donizetti
's Lucrezia Borgia
.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tic soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
of great international renown. She possessed a sweet-toned, lyrical voice and was a brilliant exponent of florid singing.
Life
Sontag was born at KoblenzKoblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
as Gertrude Walpurgis Sonntag. She made her début at the age of 15.
In 1823 she sang at Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
in Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school....
's Der Freischütz
Der Freischütz
Der Freischütz is an opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber with a libretto by Friedrich Kind. It premiered on 18 June 1821 at the Schauspielhaus Berlin...
and in December of that year created the title role in his Euryanthe
Euryanthe
Euryanthe is a German "grand, heroic, romantic" opera by Carl Maria von Weber, first performed at the Theater am Kärntnertor, Vienna on 25 October 1823...
. Her success was immediate, and in 1824 she went to the Königstädter Theater, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
She was invited to be the soprano soloist in the first performances of Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
's Symphony No. 9
Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)
The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, is the final complete symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven. Completed in 1824, the symphony is one of the best known works of the Western classical repertoire, and has been adapted for use as the European Anthem...
and Missa Solemnis
Missa Solemnis (Beethoven)
The Missa solemnis in D Major, Op. 123 was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven from 1819-1823. It was first performed on April 7, 1824 in St. Petersburg, under the auspices of Beethoven's patron Prince Nikolai Galitzin; an incomplete performance was given in Vienna on 7 May 1824, when the Kyrie,...
on 7 May 1824; she was only 18 years old at the time.
Two years later she sang the part of Rosina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia
The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville, or The Futile Precaution is an opera buffa in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based on Pierre Beaumarchais's comedy Le Barbier de Séville , which was originally an opéra comique, or a mixture of spoken play with music...
, in which her charming personality and fleet coloratura
Coloratura
Coloratura has several meanings. The word is originally from Italian, literally meaning "coloring", and derives from the Latin word colorare . When used in English, the term specifically refers to elaborate melody, particularly in vocal music and especially in operatic singing of the 18th and...
skills granted her a distinct triumph over the reigning diva, Angelica Catalani
Angelica Catalani
Angelica Catalani was an Italian opera singer, the daughter of a tradesman.At Sinigaglia, she was educated at the convent of Santa Lucia at Gubbio, where her soprano voice soon became famous....
.
In 1827, she was engaged at the Paris Italian Opera
Comédie-Italienne
Over time, there have been several buildings and several theatrical companies named the "Théâtre-Italien" or the "Comédie-Italienne" in Paris. Following the times, the theatre has shown both plays and operas...
, and a year later married Count Rossi
Pellegrino Rossi
Pellegrino Rossi was an Italian economist, politician and jurist. He was an important figure of the July Monarchy in France, and the Minister of Justice in the government of the Papal States, under Pope Pius IX.-Biography:...
. She subsequently performed at all the major musical centres of Europe, and in 1852 visited the United States where, among other engagements, she performed in a concert with the violinist Camilla Urso
Camilla Urso
Camilla Urso , was a French violinist.Born at Nantes, France, Urso was the daughter of an Italian flutist and a French singer . When she was six years old, despite general skepticism about her ability to master a “masculine” instrument, she began taking violin lessons...
.
She was hired by the Italian Opera in Mexico, where on May 17 1854, she intoned for the first time the words of the Mexican national anthem
Himno Nacional Mexicano
The National Anthem of Mexico started being used in 1854, although it was not officially adopted by law until 1943. The lyrics of the national anthem, which allude to Mexican victories in the heat of battle and cries of defending the homeland, were composed by poet Francisco González Bocanegra in...
, written by poet Francisco González Bocanegra
Francisco González Bocanegra
Francisco González Bocanegra was a Mexican poet who wrote the lyrics of the Mexican National Anthem in 1853....
. One month later, she was stricken with cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
and died at the age of 48. Her last appearance, six days before her death, was in the title role of Donizetti
Gaetano Donizetti
Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti was an Italian composer from Bergamo, Lombardy. His best-known works are the operas L'elisir d'amore , Lucia di Lammermoor , and Don Pasquale , all in Italian, and the French operas La favorite and La fille du régiment...
's Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia (opera)
Lucrezia Borgia is a melodramma, or opera, in a prologue and two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Felice Romani wrote the Italian libretto after the play by Victor Hugo, in its turn after the legend of Lucrezia Borgia. Lucrezia Borgia was first performed on 26 December 1833 at La Scala, Milan with...
.