Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-12
BY GENEvRA OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
"sontag''--1sO5-1s52

HA
been more sensational; not one do
a we call to mind in which the fabric
of reality has been interviewer with so
much romance as Sontag, the sequence
Of circumstances around her life border
ing closely on the province of the fairy
tale.
Henrietta Sontag was a beautiful, fas-
cinating woman, and some writer's claim
she was the greatest German singer of
the century.
Nature gave her a pure soprano voice
Of rare and delicate quality, united with
Incompatible sweetness. She began sing
ing minor parts at the theater at the
early age of 8 and her debut in opera
took place the very day she was Is years
old. The fairy tale began when young
Prince Rossi fell in love with her The
evil spirits which forbid the marriage
but are eventually overcome-their mar
riage, and after a few years of success
adversely, threatens to overcome hus-
band and children. Sontag descends from
her throne and throwing away her crown
works and sings to shield her loved ones
from want. Works and tolls her hard
est until the catastrophe supervenes, and
having accomplished her devoted pur-
pose she breathes her last. Can ANYBODY
improve on this arabian Nights" story?
Sontag was born in 1905 in the beau
tiful Rhensh town of Coblentz The
no great reputation. A modest house
hold this; for at that time actors were
considered little better than social out
casts. They say Sontag when a little
girl would stand on table and sing
Mozart's arias when hardly out of her
babyhood.
She made her debut in "Jean de Paris"
taking the part of the queen, in Vienna
Four years she remained in this city,
where the mighty genius of Beethoven
was still battling against poverty and
physical adversely, spending her time in
close study and occasional appearances
on the stage.
She then made her appearance in
Weber's opera, "Euryanthy," which gave
her a triumph. Composer and singers
names were in everyones mouth for
months. Even Beethoven, whose deaf
ness kept him at home, asked the next
morning "IIow little Sontag had lcquit-
ted herself"
She then signed a contract for Leipzig
and Berlin, was received always with the
greatest enthusiasm and gained a pop
ularity never known before. Moving In
the first circles in Berlin 1t was natural
that she saw a good deal of Count Rossi
secretary to the Sandman embassy and
a great favorite of society, and they
were secretly married. Her life shows
us how doors are opened in Europe to
arLlStS ana ART ludl liOHSy Nouih ASFSA
open or buy.
In 1926 Sontag first appeared in Paris
as Roslna in ''Il Barbiere" The Paris
public was slightly predisposed toward
her Catalani had just made a great
hit IN that part and being a German her
reception was not as she wished. ana
she left for London and made a success
full debut. Her performance alone
reached the colossal figure. for that time
of e2O00. Malibran was singing in Lon
don at this time and the public did It's
utmost to fen the jealousy between the
two stars. Sontag then again returned
to Paris and made her last appearance
there in 1880 and retired from the stage.
For nearly twenty years the personality
of Sontag is merged in that of the
Countess Rossi. After having exhausted
the cup of public adulation as an actress
and a singer 1t was no less her destiny
to shine in private life as q great lady
socially. Her husband had been promoted
10 the rank of ambassador and for
number of years they held that rank
at The Hague in Germany and Prussia.
AT all these courts the countess was a
great favorite. AS a wife and mother
her conduct was exemplary. Adverse cir
cumstances. however. were to betan the
Rossi family, and owing to financial trou-
bles of 1s4S, which shattered nearly all
the thrones of the European continent,
The diplomatic service had to be In many
posts abolished and the private fortune
OF the Ross family seriously compro'
missed by depreciation of their invest
ments. This brave mother, noble wife'
brave artist, again returned to the stage.
We can imagine the objections Of the
Rossi family Even the king desired
that she remain at home, but she would
not listen and decided to challenge the
verdict of the English public, in whose
ears the marvellous music of Jenny LIND
still fingered She sang in London, Scot
land and Ireland and then signed con-
tract for America Following In the
wake of Jenny Lind, who had been the
idol of the transatlantic public. her task
WI 20 easy one, and the applause tnat
was her universal tribute gains IN Value
when regarded in the light of the COM
parsons she was subjected to. her voice
was in fine condition, stimulated by the
change OF climate had it's full power,
and there is little doubt that it would
have preserved it's strength and sweet
ness for a number of years, but the end
was nearer at hand than anybody I'M
agined. She was singing in Mexico when
an attack of cholera seized her ana she
died in a few hours. She had accom-
plished her object, however-and this
must have been a consolation, even IN
her death struggle-and that was to re-
instate her family in their fortune
AS a singer nobody will deny Sontag
n place among the first In ner proIeSSlon
Few of her sex have compassed public
career, exciting as little jealousy as she
did. Few kept themselves so pure OF
cabal and intrigue. AS a wife and mother
none could be more faithful and devoted
She died June IL, 1852. Only six days
before she had acted and sung in
''Iucrezia Borgia," the same opera which
was to be the swans song of her coun-
trywoman, TietJens.
Next Sunday article will be "Tietjens,
the Hungarian Singer"
s.
The third concert Of the Los Angeles
symphony orchestra was a delightful
one. given last Friday afternoon at the
Auditorium.
Part first gave the overture to Fidelio
op. 70, Beethoven. The orchestra played
with spirit, vim and enthusiasm Little
do people know of the marvellous devotion
TO art, and the intimate knowledge of or
chestral resources of the master mind,
which can bring to a state of good organ
ization this body of musicians Most
noticeable in the work this season are the
clear well shaded tones of the violins
and cellos and tibet absence of noise in the
brass. In every concert the directors
poetic insight and scholarly reading and
Interpretation are shown.
The second number introduced the solo
ist for the afternoon.
-%.-
Hebert Witherspoon, the eminent basso
is an artist America can we'll be proud