SONTAG Henriette, German singer, born in Coblentz, 13 May, 1805; died in Vera Cruz, Mexico, 18 June, 1854. Her parents belonged to the theatrical profession, and carefully cultivated her vocal and dramatic powers, which were naturally great. Before she was six years old she sang on the stage in children's parts at Darmstadt, Berlin, and Prague She studied for four years at the conservatory of Prague, where, in her fifteenth year, with marked success, she took the leading part in Boieldieu's "Jean de Paris." She then went to Vienna, and before she was nineteen she was prima donna of the Berlin stage. Shortly afterward she left for Paris, where she competed successfully with Malibran, Pasta, and Catalani. In 1828 she made her debut in London, but at the close of the season she married Count Rossi, a Piedmontese nobleman, and after a triumphant operatic career in the great capitals of Europe retired to private life. She still retained her great love of art for its own sake, and continued to study while mingling in the highest circles of society. In 1848 her husband became involved in political troubles, and lost his fortune For his sake and for that of their children she resolved to resort again to her art, and accepted an engagement at London for the season of 1849. In 1853, encouraged by the successful career of Jenny Lind, she decided to visit the United States, and in the autumn of that year arrived in New York Her tour through the chief cities of the Union was brilliant, remunerative, and exceeded her expectations. In 1854 she accepted an engagement from the manager of the principal theatre of Mexico, at Vera Cruz : but she was suddenly stricken down by cholera while preparing for her first appearance.