The soprano soloist role in the premiere of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and Missa Solemnis was filled by an eighteen-year-old Henriette Sontag on 7 May 1824. Born Gertrude Walpurgis Sontag in Koblenz in 1806, she emerged from a family of actors to become a prominent dramatic soprano within the Kingdom of Prussia and across Europe.
Early Career and Breakthroughs
The daughter of Franz and Franziska Sontag, she debuted on stage at age six. Her formal musical trajectory accelerated in 1823 when she appeared in Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz in Leipzig. In December of that year, she originated the title character in Weber's Euryanthe. Following her work with Beethoven in 1824, she secured an engagement at the Königstädter Theater in Berlin during 1825.
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In 1826, Sontag joined the Paris Comédie-Italienne, where she performed the part of Rosina in Gioachino Rossini's The Barber of Seville. Her career expanded throughout England and Germany over the following years. Around 1829, she entered a clandestine marriage with Count Carlo Rossi. Following this union, she withdrew from the professional stage for a period, returning only after her husband's personal financial standing declined.
Resumption of Performance and Final Years
Benjamin Lumley encouraged her return to the Covent Garden Theatre in 1849, where she demonstrated that her vocal capabilities remained intact. She embarked on an American tour in 1852. In May 1854, during a literary event for Mexican president Antonio López de Santa Anna, she debuted the lyrics Francisco González Bocanegra wrote for the Mexican national anthem. Shortly after performing Lucia di Lammermoor, she contracted cholera and died in Mexico City at age 48.
Vocal Style and Recognition
Sontag was noted for a lyrical, sweet-toned voice characterized by florid technique. Hector Berlioz observed her ability to maintain clear intonation and agility without relying on excessive volume or straining. He contrasted her refined style with contemporary performers who he felt relied on projection rather than musical expression.
Fast facts
- Born: 1806, Koblenz
- Died: 17 June 1854, Mexico City
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Prussia
- Occupations: Actor, vocalist, opera singer
- Notable performance: Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 premiere
- Final resting place: St. Marienthal Abbey, Germany
- Spouse: Count Carlo Rossi
Questions readers ask
Where is Henriette Sontag buried?
She is buried at St. Marienthal Abbey in Germany.
What caused her death?
She died of cholera in Mexico City in 1854 at the age of 48.
Achievements
- Instruments: voice
- Genres: classical music
