Contents
Felix Mendelssohn
Composing the Wedding March and reviving Bach’s St Matthew Passion.
String Octet · A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- Born
- 3 February 1809
- Birthplace
- Hamburg, Germany
- Died
- 4 November 1847
More people
Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn was a German composer, pianist and conductor. His early mastery of chamber and orchestral music was matched by work organising concerts, teaching and bringing older music back to public attention.
Early life
A musical household
Grew up in a cultured family in Berlin alongside his equally musical sister Fanny.
Childhood training
Studied piano and composition and performed at concerts in the family home.
Career
- 1820s
Young composer
Produced major chamber and orchestral works while still a teenager.
- 1829
Bach revival
Conducted a celebrated Berlin performance of the St Matthew Passion.
- 1835
Leipzig conductor
Became director of the Gewandhaus concerts.
- 1843
Conservatory founder
Helped establish the Leipzig Conservatory.
Selected work
String Octet
An expansive chamber work for eight string players.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
An early overture followed by incidental music including the Wedding March.
Violin Concerto in E minor
A concerto developed with violinist Ferdinand David.
Beyond work
Travel
Visits to Britain and Italy inspired works including the Hebrides Overture and Italian Symphony.
Fanny Mendelssohn
Maintained a close musical relationship with his sister, a composer and pianist in her own right.
Sources & photo credit
Life and career ↗Mendelssohn and the Bach revival ↗Photo: Eduard Magnus. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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