Born: 3 January 1806, Germany
Died: 17 June 1854
Country most active: Germany
Also known as: Gertrud Walpurgis, Henrietta Sontag
From Famous Women: An Outline of Feminine Achievement Through the Ages With Life Stories of Five Hundred Noted Women. Written by Joseph Adelman, published 1926 by Ellis M Lonow Company:
Henriette Sontag, Countess Rossi, a German opera singer, born at Coblwenz. She was the daughter of actors, and made an early public appearance, when her precocity, appearance, and vocal gifts at once created a great impression. After singling in Berlin in 1825, her career was one unbroken triumph.
She made her début in Paris, became a favorite, and returned to Germany with heightened prestige. Everywhere her beauty, charming voice, and exquisite vocalization combined to excite an admiration amounting to frenzy. At Göttingen her post-chaise was thrown into the river by the ardent crowd, no mortal being counted worthy to make use of it after her.
When she married Count Rossi in 1829 she definitely bade farewell to artistic life, and for twenty years remained lost to the musical public, though occasionally she would sing for public charities. Her married life was very happy but the disorders of 1847-1848 compelled her to return to the stage, and in 1849 she appeared as Linda at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London. though she was now forty-three her voice and charms were unimpaired, and she united to youth and freshness the qualities of a finished artist.
During the next five years she sang with brilliant success in Europe and the United States. Her last appearance was made in Lucrezia Borgia in Mexico, in 1854. She was attacked by cholera, and a brief illness cut short a life of unchequered prosperity.
Henriette Sontag, as a singer, had the qualities of unsurpassed sweetness, fabulous agility, and perfect intonation. Limited in dramatic power, she appeared to the highest advantage in works of a light and placid style. She won the special favor of eminent musicians and connoisseurs in every country, and it fell to her lot to achieve an international popularity never before accorded to a German singer.
From Woman: Her Position, Influence and Achievement Throughout the Civilized World. Designed and Arranged by William C. King. Published in 1900 by The King-Richardson Co. Copyright 1903 The King-Richardson Co.:
German opera singer
This gifted singer appeared on the stage at Frankfort when but five years of age. She received the most careful training and appeared in both German and Italian music. At the age of twenty-five she easily outshone all other operatic stars of her own land.
When at the height of her career she married Count Rossi, an Italian noble, and retired to private life. Her husband was Ambassador of Sardinia at the Hague at the time of her marriage.
During her retirement she was noted for her princely charities and was a great favorite at court.
Pecuniary reverses and embarrassments came and she returned to her profession.
Jonny Lind had achieved great success in America and Henriette decided to visit these shores. She was enthusiastically received, and made a tour of the United States and Mexico. In the midst of her triumphs in Mexico she was attacked by the cholera and died.