Heinrich Sontheim (1820–1912), also known as Honas Bär Sontheimer, was a prominent late-19th-Century tenor and kammersänger (chamber singer) based in Stuttgart, Germany.

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Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Heinrich Sontheim
Heinrich Sontheim portrait
Born	(1820-02-03)February 3, 1820 Jebenhausen, Wuerttemberg, Germany
Died	1912 (aged 91–92) Germany
Occupation	Tenor
Employer	Stuttgart Opera
Title	"The King of Tenors"
Parent(s)	Moses Loeb Sontheimer and Ruchele Rosenheim

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Sontheim was born on 3 February 1820 in Jebenhausen, Wuerttemberg, Germany. His parents were Moses Loeb Sontheimer and Ruchele Rosenheim.^[1] A convert to Protestant Christianity as a young man, Sontheim returned to Judaism in 1847, following the death of his non-Jewish wife. He was a first cousin twice removed of Albert Einstein.^[2]

Coached from an early age, Sontheim earned international acclaim in the mid-to-late 19th Century. He was hailed in Germany as "The King of Tenors".^[3] He was known for his roles, among others, as Eléazar in Halévy's La Juive and the title role in Rossini's Otello. He was given a contract with the Stuttgart Opera, where he sang from 1850–1872. His appearances in Vienna as Eléazar secured his international reputation.^[4]