The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-28


heart that can never be flied up As IN private life tn
loss Of the social qualities and sindy int to whc
We have be. &C ustomsd robs OF portion
our symI athies so in the sphere of amusement.
the departure Of fsvorte singer or actor cuts
from associations that have beeoms sndesred to b.
habit But whom the memory OF THESE associations
hallowed By the consciousness that the object of
regrets was person whose private career
admirable and loveable tnan her profes ore and
that in all the strange vcisstudes through which she
was destined to pass she dispayed frmnees consteucy
and self reliance but seldom Witnessed even in shs
stronger sex, may we'll 10 excused devutlng SO nc
small space the illustration Of and virtues that
reflected as much honor upon the proud and naughty
class amongst whom accident placed her upon that
to which she original belonged.
Hcnrette Sontag born at Coblentz in Prussia of
one Of those families Of German comedians of which
Goethe has gwen such poetic description in his
"Wilhelm Meister." Coming to the light like the
halcyon, upon the crests of stormy waves she early
knew the vicssitudes trials of artists life At
the age Of years she made hcr appearance at
Iarmstadt in ''las Donauweibchen" (The Daughter Of
the Danube'O, an opera very popular in Germany.
where, in the character Of Salome she admiration
for her childish grace and just intonaton Three
afterwards, having lost her father, Henriette Sonag
went to Prague with her m ther, whore she PLAYED
chden's parts under the direction of Weber who wa
then director OF the orchestra Of the theatre Her pre-
cocious success obtained for her by singular favor
mission to enter the Academy of Music Of that city al
though size had not yet reached the age required by g
rules There for four years she studied vocal music,
the pianoforte, and the elements Of v0cal3ation An
ndsposton of the prma of the theatre gave her
the opportunity to appear for the rst time in part of
SON importa 1cehat of the Princess of Navarro, In
Boildeu's OPERA John of Paris She then fifteen.
The fexibilty of her voice, her budding charms which
announced her future beauty, the agitation which
stirred her heart filled it with mysterious PRESENT.
ments secured for her which augured well for
the future of her profession al life From Prague Hem
riette Sontag went to Vienna where she met Madame
Mainvie Fodor, whose example and good counsels de-
yeloped the rich gifts which she had received from
nature
Singing alternately German Italian opers she was
able to prove her in these two strongly contrast
ing languages, and to choose with deberaton between
the dazzling caprices Of italian music and the sober and
profound accents of the German school. An en-
gagement having been offered her, to sing in German
opera at the theatre of Leipzig she went to that city,
the centre of philosophical and literary discussion and
acquired great reputation by the which she
interpreted Weber's Ier Frey schultz ant Euryantheu
The admirers of the genius Of this great composer
chiefly the young of the Universities, and all those
ardent and generous spirits who wished to relieve
many from foreign rule well in the realm OF fancy
politics. they eounded with enthusiasm the praises of
Mademoselle sontag whose was known throughout
Germany that Of viruoso Of the first order born to
the marves of Mara 1t at Leipzig that Mara
that famous German singer at the close Of the eighteenth
century educated under the of the venerable
Professor Hiler TWAS vouchsafed 20 Mile Sontag to
deocate magnificent organ ard vocalization almost
unknown that side Of the Rhine to the performance
the vigorous and profound music Of Weber Beethoven
Spchr Gsc all those new German composers who, sever
all alliance with foreign scepticism had given free
dom TO the rational genius Overwhelmed with homage
celebrated by all the brilliant Of the day the stu
the German press, Mile sontag was called to Berlin
where she appeared with immense at the theatre
OF Koengstadt II was at Berlin, as every one knows
that Ier Frey schutz' represented for the first
time 1t at Berlin. Protestant and ratonalistc
city, the centre of intellectual and political
ment which sought II concentrate within itself the life
cf Germany at the expense OF Catholic Vienna in whc
eigned tie spirit of Tradition sensuaty the gaety and
the light melodies Of Italy il was at Berlin say that
The school oi cramatic music fouhded by Weber,
had found its stand point hademoselie Sontag
ceived with enthusiasm an inspired intepretress Of
the national music. he Hegean philosophers found
in her for their learned commentaries and they
recognized in her lmpid and sonorous voice the sub.
The King Of Prussia received her at court with paren
tai Kindness 1t there that diplomacy had occasion
TO make approaches to Mile Sontag, and to effect a
breach in the heart Of the muse.
Awaiting herself of leave Of absence which had been
granted her Mile Sontag went finally to Paris aud ap
peared at the Italian theatre on the ntteentn OF june
1885, in the part of Rosna in ii Barbere d Sevigia.
Her brilliant especially in Rode's yara-
ons which she introduced in the secord act during the
singing lesson This she at once confirmed and
increased in sIa Ionna del Lago' AMI "LItaliana in
Agieri' many portions of which, written for contral
oS she was obliged to Upon her
of interest She remained in this city until the close of
the year 1920; when, abandoning Germany, and the
school which it had founded in the sanctuary OF its
nationality she fixed herself at Paris. Mde. Sontag
first appeared in the character of Desemona in the
'Otello on the second OF January iS2S she was one
| epoch charmed Paris and London and among whom
Madame Pasta, Mad Pisaron Mad Malibran and Mdlle.
| Scntag shone stars Of the first magnitude.
Between the last two vocalists different in their
Styles there supposed to exist Of those fruitful
rivalries Of which Hoffman has given US so dramatic
picture There was, however, no real ground for this
impression on the part of the public The circum.
stance which probably originated it. occurred the
| first time since her return. Rossini came in
! the interval be,wixt the ac.s to tell the Rosina
of the night at that moment surrounded by crowd Of
a6mrers that he had lett Mabran in tears in her box
in despair at ever attaining such purity OF tone and
such perfection Of execution as she had displayed
| This was sincere tribute Of admiration and not OF
envy the part OF that amcntcd vocalist whose real
character, terg mpIese with the eccentricy which
too often Leset genius few could understand and whose
victim OF cold'blt oded worldness.
The truth IL, that her arrival in Paris, Malbran re-
ceived her fair colleague with open arms Their eng
produced friendly emulation insteaG hostile piquc and
rivalry end the two incom arabe singers agreed to per
form in turn, lie operas Thus did they enact on
| alternate gifts Tcsdemona, Rosina, Cencrentoa, &c
while they performed together such operas Tanced
&c TLis the most glorious tho eliminating epoch
Of the Italians in Paris. On one occasion Don Giovanni
was gven-Mad sontsg performing Donna Anna (per
hapF the greatest OF her trumps); Malibran, Zerna
/ end Henfotter. Eivira. On this. of the coldes
nights record, among the most stirring, elbowne
their way from without, in the rush of the eager asp
rants TO seats in the house. were observed at the
| time Rossni, Cherubini PaSr, Meyerbeer and Auber
Well might tie journals Of the day observe that better
criterion needed of the merits Of the performers.
Even in the midst Of such aud festivals o
ant, blac spot showed itsef upon the horizon: dplo
macy labored secretly TO work confus uslonts prooc h
lecame naenacing and II suddenly announced that
Mile Sontag about to quit the stage to devote herself
to more serious duties The fortunate object Of MILE
SonaR's cboce-and time has proved how we'll founded
her judement-wss member Of the diplomatic body
then accredited at the Court of the Tuilees Count d.
Rosi although then very young man. was already, al
that critical period OF political affairs Consser dam
bassdde Of the Sarinian mss'ona sufficient proof of hi
mental powers He lad the good looks the elegant
The tastes and the gfts Of conversation which dis
tinguish The travelled and the real home de qndt
| qualities which adyorsity can diminish. Fearing
the preudices Of his uobe relatives and Of his royal
oefar ha date