Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Jacob Ludwig Felix

MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY, JACOB LUDWIG FELIX. - Musician, b. in Hamburg on 3 Feb. 1809, d. in Leipzig on 4 Nov. 1847. From his mother he learned the first elements of music, the study of which he then continued in Berlin, and at the age of 15 he had his first symphony performed. He visited Italy and there wrote some of his finest music, also striking up friendships with illustrious masters. He traveled a great deal in France, England and Germany. Having settled in Leipzig, he was director of the concerts at the Gewandhaus and founder of the music Conservatory.

M.'s music, a faithful echo of his lyrical temperament and of his life as a refined and highly sensitive artist, embraces all genres: overtures, symphonies, Lieder, motets, psalms, concertos, oratorios, a whole succession of authentic masterpieces. In the oratorios one perceives the manner of Haydn; nevertheless St. Paul (op. 36) imposes itself through the warm poetic inspiration that pervades it, uncommon in other compositions of the genre, at an epoch when Rossini and Meyerbeer triumphed, while Elijah (op. 70) is more dramatic and attuned to strong colors. Of another oratorio, Christus (op. 97), only fragments remain, very interesting, which preluded another masterpiece left unfinished because of the author's death.