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

Personal life

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

Singing career

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". He was known for his roles, among others, in Eleazar and Othello. He was given a contract with the Stuttgart Opera, where he sang from 1850-1872.