Felix Mendelssohn
A composer of luminous clarity and emotional warmth who revived Baroque music and gave the Romantic era some of its most beloved melodies.
1809–1847 (age 38)·German composer·Birthday: February 3
Biography
Felix Mendelssohn was a prodigy who never lost his sparkle. Born into a wealthy Berlin family, he was composing by his teens, his brilliance nurtured in a salon alive with intellectual debate. At 17, he wrote the dazzling Octet; at 20, he conducted a landmark revival of Bach's 'St. Matthew Passion,' rescuing the master from near oblivion. Mendelssohn's music radiates a unique combination of formal precision, derived from his love of Bach and Mozart, and a Romantic spirit full of fairy-tale lightness, as in his 'Midsummer Night's Dream' overture, or profound lyricism, heard in his Violin Concerto. A tirelessly traveling conductor and pianist, he helped found the Leipzig Conservatory, shaping German musical education. His life, though cut short at 38, was a whirlwind of creation and curation, leaving a body of work celebrated for its craftsmanship, its infectious energy, and its deep, singing heart.
#1 When Felix Was Born
The biggest hits of 1809
Felix's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1809Born
1814Started school
1822Became a teenager
1825Could drive
1827Could vote
1830Turned 21
1839Turned 30
1847Died at 38
Key Achievements
- Revived interest in Johann Sebastian Bach's music by conducting the first performance of the 'St. Matthew Passion' since Bach's death.
- Composed the 'Hebrides Overture' (Fingal's Cave), a cornerstone of the concert overture genre inspired by a trip to Scotland.
- Founded the Leipzig Conservatory of Music in 1843, a leading institution for musical training in Europe.
- Wrote the incidental music for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', which includes the famous 'Wedding March'.
- Completed his Symphony No. 4, the 'Italian', a vibrant and popular work inspired by his travels through Italy.
Did You Know?
He was a talented painter and left behind a large portfolio of detailed watercolors and sketches from his travels.
He was a direct descendant of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn.
Queen Victoria once told him that she sang his song 'Italien' ('On Wings of Song') often, and he later dedicated his Scottish Symphony to her.
The famous melody for the Christmas carol 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' is adapted from a chorus in his cantata 'Festgesang'.
“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.”
