Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy German composer, conductor, organist and pianist Date of Birth: 03.02.1809 Country: Germany

Biography of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, a German composer, conductor, organist, and pianist, was born on February 3. He was a renowned composer and one of the classics of the 19th century. Mendelssohn is widely known for his composition of the "Wedding March." However, he has also written numerous works in various genres.

Among his orchestral compositions, Mendelssohn's programmatic overtures stand out, including "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (of which the "Wedding March" is a fragment), "Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage," "Fingal's Cave," "The Fair Melusine," and "Ruy Blas." Of his five symphonies, the most significant are the "Italian" and particularly the "Scottish" symphonies.

Mendelssohn gained great fame through his violin concerto with orchestra. As a pianist, conductor, and composer, Mendelssohn quickly achieved success and recognition. In 1829, at his initiative and under his direction, Johann Sebastian Bach's "St. Matthew Passion" was performed in Berlin, marking the beginning of the revival of Bach's vocal music in the 19th century. This performance propelled Mendelssohn to worldwide acclaim.

In 1830, Mendelssohn embarked on a journey throughout Europe, spending the winter in Rome while continuing to compose. In 1835, he was invited to Leipzig to serve as the musical director. That same year, he got married in September, and the couple had five children. Mendelssohn also organized music festivals in many cities in Germany.

Throughout this time, Mendelssohn continued to compose music, including the "Scottish Symphony" and the violin concerto, among other works. In the summer of 1847, Felix received the news of his sister Fanny's death, who was like a second self to him. This news deeply affected him, and his last major composition, the "Requiem for Fanny," reflects his profound emotional turmoil.

On November 4, 1847, Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy passed away in Leipzig.