Mendelssohn's grandfather was the Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, but Felix was initially raised without religion until he was baptised aged seven into the Reformed Christian church. He was recognised early as a musical prodigy, but his parents were cautious and did not seek to capitalise on his talent. His sister Fanny received a similar musical education and was a talented composer and pianist in her own right; some of her early songs were published under her brother's name and her Easter Sonata was for a time mistakenly attributed to him after being lost and rediscovered in the 1970s.
Vida y carrera
Mendelssohn enjoyed early success in Germany, and revived interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, notably with his performance of the St Matthew Passion in 1829. He became well received in his travels throughout Europe as a composer, conductor and soloist; his ten visits to Britain – during which many of his major works were premiered – form an important part of his adult career. His essentially conservative musical tastes set him apart from more adventurous musical contemporaries, such as Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, Charles-Valentin Alkan and Hector Berlioz. The Leipzig Conservatory, which he founded, became a bastion of this anti-radical outlook.
After a long period of relative denigration due to changing musical tastes and antisemitism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, his creative originality has been re-evaluated. He is now among the most popular composers of the Romantic era.
Datos clave
- Born: February 3, 1809 in Hamburg, Germany
- Fallecimiento: 1847
- Campo: Music
Legado e impacto
The influence of Felix Mendelssohn extends far beyond his own lifetime. He fundamentally shaped the landscape of music, and his compositions and musical innovations remain foundational to this day.
Though he passed away in 1847, his ideas continue to be studied, debated, and built upon by scholars and practitioners worldwide.
Felix Mendelssohn sigue siendo una de las mentes más celebradas surgidas de Germany, prueba del rico legado intelectual de la región.
Genios destacados de Germany
Germany ha producido muchas mentes notables. Junto con Felix Mendelssohn:
Ver todos los genios de Germany →
Descubre más mentes brillantes en Music
Explorar Music GeniusesArtículos relacionados
Explorar más
Lee el perfil completo de Felix Mendelssohn
Ver el perfil de Felix Mendelssohn →