Meet Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

by | Oct 7, 2025 | Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy | 0 comments

 

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, possibly more than any other composer in history, seemed to arrive as a fully formed masterful composer when he was still in his teens. Before he was yet twenty, he had written his masterful string Octet, his ravishing incidental music to Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as string symphonies and other works that astonished the musicians of his time. Those pieces, as well as many of his other works, still captivate us today.

Today, Classical Archives is pleased to offer you this virtual visit with one of the most extraordinary composers of all time.

Dear friends,

I am Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, and I am grateful to speak to you for a few moments about my life and music.

I was born in Hamburg in 1809, into a family that valued both learning and the arts. My childhood was steeped in culture: I painted, I read, I studied languages—but it was music that became the deepest current of my life. By the time I was a boy, I was already composing symphonies for performance in our home concerts.

I grew quickly as a musician, but one turning point was my rediscovery of Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. In 1829, I conducted it in Berlin, bringing that masterwork back to the world’s ears after nearly a century of silence. That revival was not only an act of homage—it was a statement of faith in the power of music to speak across generations.

As a composer, I tried to capture both the classical clarity I admired and the romantic spirit of my time. My overture A Midsummer Night’s Dream, written in my teens, opened the door to a lifelong dialogue with Shakespeare. Later came symphonies—the “Italian,” full of sunlight and dancing rhythms, and the “Scottish,” born of mist and ruins. My oratorios Elijah and St. Paul allowed me to weave faith and drama into great choral tapestries.

I was also fortunate to help found the Leipzig Conservatory, a place where young musicians could be trained with rigor and inspiration. Teaching and conducting gave me as much joy as composing, for music is never solitary—it lives in performance, in the sharing.

My life was not long—I left the world at thirty-eight—but I hope that in those years I was able to contribute something true, something that still sings. If my music carries a touch of grace, or awakens in you the beauty I felt when writing it, then my task is complete.

Thank you for listening, and thank you for letting my music continue to breathe in your hearts.

A Selection of Works by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Available for Listening on Classical Archives

Please note that in order to listen, you must be a member of Classical Archives. If you are not yet a member, we invite you to join now. Free 14-day trial memberships are now available.

Keyboard Works

Chamber Works

Orchestral Works                                                                     

Concertos

Oratorios

 

 

 

 

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *