Exploring The Life And Legacy Of Felix Mendelssohn

Felix Mendelssohn, born in 1809, was a remarkable German composer, pianist, and conductor whose influence still resonates in the world of classical music today. From an early age, he demonstrated extraordinary talent, captivating audiences with his compositions and performances. His journey from a child prodigy to a pivotal figure in the Romantic movement is a testament to his dedication and creativity.

Who Was Felix Mendelssohn?

German composer Felix Mendelssohn made his public debut in Berlin at just 9 years old. In 1819, he joined the Singakademie music academy and began composing non-stop. At Singakademie, he also became a conductor, but continued to compose prolifically. Mendelssohn founded the Leipzig Conservatory of Music in 1843.

Childhood

Pianist, composer, and conductor Felix Mendelssohn was born Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy in Hamburg, Germany, on February 3, 1809. His parents were Jewish but converted to Christianity before he, his brother, and two sisters were born. When Mendelssohn was 2 years old, he moved to Berlin with his family. There, he began taking piano lessons with Ludwig Berger and studied composition under K.F. Zelter. In 1816, he further expanded his education by studying with pianist Marie Bigot during an extended stay in Paris, France.

Mendelssohn quickly established himself as a musical prodigy, composing a handful of operas and 11 symphonies during his childhood. At just 9 years old, he made his public debut in Berlin, showcasing his exceptional talent.

Early Work

In 1819, Mendelssohn joined the Singakademie music academy and began composing non-stop. In 1820 alone, he wrote a violin sonata, two piano sonatas, multiple songs, a cantata, a brief opera, and a male quartet. In 1826, he produced one of his best-known works, the Overture to a Midsummer Night's Dream. He presented his opera The Marriage of the Camacho the following year in Berlin. It was the only opera of his performed in public during his life.

At Singakademie, Mendelssohn also became a conductor. In 1829, he conducted a performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion. The performance's success led to other opportunities, including a chance to conduct the London Philharmonic Society that same year. Inspired by his visit to England and Scotland, Mendelssohn began composing his Symphony No. 3; it took more than a decade to complete. Known as his Scottish Symphony, this work commemorated his visit to Holyrood Chapel in Edinburgh and the highlands.

Personal Life

In 1836, a year after his father died, Mendelssohn met Cécile Jeanrenaud, a clergyman's daughter, in Frankfurt. Mendelssohn was 10 years Jeanrenaud's senior; she was just 16 when they got engaged. The couple married on March 28, 1837, and over the course of their marriage, they had five children.

Later Work

The same year that he married, Mendelssohn composed his Piano Concerto No. 2 in D Minor. From 1838 to 1844, he worked on his Violin Concerto in E Minor. Prior to the piece's completion, Mendelssohn founded the Leipzig Conservatory of Music and became its director, thus establishing Leipzig as a musical center in Germany. After finishing Violin Concerto in E Minor, he conducted a series of concerts for the Philharmonic. In 1846, he presented his newly written Elijah at the Birmingham Festival.

Final Years and Death

In May 1847, Mendelssohn's sister, Fanny, who was a lifelong inspiration to him, died suddenly. Her death devastated him, and he soon lost his zest for life. His health, already compromised by his strenuous career, began to deteriorate rapidly. Six months later, on November 4, 1847, Felix Mendelssohn died of a ruptured blood vessel in Leipzig, Germany. He had recently returned from a brief visit to Switzerland, where he completed the composition of his String Quartet in F Minor.

Although he was only 38 when he died, Mendelssohn distinguished himself as one of the first significant Romantic composers of the 1800s, leaving a lasting impact on the music world.

Quick Facts

• Name: Felix Mendelssohn
• Birth Year: 1809
• Birth Date: February 3, 1809
• Birth City: Hamburg
• Birth Country: Germany
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: German Romantic composer, pianist, and conductor who wrote the Overture to a 'Midsummer Night's Dream' and founded the Leipzig Conservatory of Music.
• Industries: Classical
• Astrological Sign: Aquarius
• Schools: Singakademie
• Nationalities: German
• Death Year: 1847
• Death Date: November 4, 1847
• Death City: Leipzig
• Death Country: Germany

Quotes

• "People often complain that music is too ambiguous, that what they should think when they hear it is so unclear, whereas everyone understands words. With me, it is exactly the opposite, and not only with regard to an entire speech but also with individual words."
• "Though everything else may appear shallow and repulsive, even the smallest task in music is so absorbing, and carries us so far away from town, country, earth, and all worldly things, that it is truly a blessed gift of God."
• "Ever since I began to compose, I have remained true to my starting principle: not to write a page because no matter what public, or what pretty girl wanted it to be thus or thus; but to write solely as I myself thought best, and as it gave me pleasure."