Heinefetter was born into a poor Jewish family in
Mainz and was one of five Heinefetter sisters, all of whom were able to develop stage careers. Kathinka received her vocal training from her older sister
Sabine. In 1837, she made her debut at the
Frankfurt Opera as Agathe in the opera
Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber. In 1840, she had significant success at the
Paris Opera. After this scandal, she left Brussels. From 1850, she sang again at the Paris Opéra, then at the opera houses in Hamburg, Berlin, Vienna and Budapest. Her major roles included the title role in
Norma by Vincenzo Bellini, Rachel in
La Juive by Jacques Fromental Halévy, Valentine in
Les Huguenots by Giacomo Meyerbeer and Agathe in Carl Maria von Weber's
Der Freischütz. Heinefetter retired from the stage in 1858 and settled in Freiburg im Breisgau, where she died of heart disease in December at the age of 39. == In memory ==