In 1821, Zelter took his 12 year-old student to visit German poet
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The visit was most important to the young
Mendelssohn, who remained at the 72 year-old writer's home for over two
weeks. Goethe was fascinated by the gifted young man, and the two would
later correspond via a series of letters. Later, when Goethe heard Mendelssohn's
B minor pianoforte quartet, he showed such appreciation that the young composer
dedicated the piece to him.When Felix Mendelssohn was 16, he composed his Octet for Strings in E flat major,
Op. 20, which wasn't just impressive because of its composer's age, but because
it was the one of the first works of its kind. Mendelssohn's piece
featured an ingenious interplay between two distinct string quartets.
In addition to the literary works of Goethe, Mendelssohn found inspiration in
the works of English playwright William Shakespeare. At the age of
seventeen, he composed the overture to "A Midsummer Night's Dream Opus 21",
based on the Bard's comedic play. The piece featured lush orchestration,
and is considered one of the most beautiful works of the Romantic period of
Classical music.
From 1826 to 1829, Mendelssohn studied at Berlin University. It was
then he decided on music as his chosen profession.
During the years that followed, Mendelssohn traveled and performed all over
Europe, discovering England, Scotland, Italy and France. In 1832, Mendelssohn presented his magnificent "Hebrides Overture", as
well as other important works, in London, a city where he greatly enjoyed
performing his works. In 1833,
he took on the post of conductor at Düsseldorf, giving concert performances
of Handel's "Messiah" among others. That same year, he
composed many of his own vocal works, including "Lord, Have Mercy Upon Us,", and
the Opera, "Trala. A frischer Bua bin i", as well as the "Italian
Symphony".
At the age of 26, Mendelssohn moved to Leipzig and became conductor of the
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, performing works by Bach and Beethoven among
others; at the time, there was little interest in Bach's music, but
Mendelssohn changed all that, using his own popularity and the four hundred
singers and soloists of the Singakademie to help renew interest in the great
composer's work. Earlier, in 1829, Mendelssohn had made his debut as a
Maestro, being the first to conduct Bach's "St. Matthew Passion" since the
composer's death in 1750, and more importantly, 100 years after Bach's own
premiere performance of the work. Mendelssohn performed the piece.
In 1832, Mendelssohn married Cécile Jeanrenaud, the daughter of a Protestant
clergyman. It was a happy marriage, and they had five children, Carl, Marie,
Paul, Felix and Lilli. Over the years that followed, Mendelssohn was very
prolific, and in addition to numerous composition, he gave several successful
performances of his work, and those of other great composers. Mendelssohn
composed several works for the piano, which was highly popular at the time; but
he also wrote for many different combinations of instruments and voices.
