On October 15, 1825 Mendelssohn finished his first indisputable masterpiece, the Octet in Eb Major Op.20, written for Edward Rietz, his friend & violin teacher. A year later, at age 17, another of his masterpieces – the Overture to the Shakespeare play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was completed, and the young prodigy was truly on his way to success. Between 1829 and 1832 Mendelssohn undertook what was to become known as his ‘Grand Tour’ where he travelled throughout Europe, meeting musicians, writing music and performing his woks as well as those of other composers – including the Octet and the Overture he composed for A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Mendelssohn had hoped to become the director of the Singakademie – the institution led by his former teacher Zelter, and where his acclaimed performance of the St. Mathew Passion had taken place. However, after Zelter’s death in 1832, the position was offered to another less-notable musician, and Felix turned down the assistant directorship that was offered to him in 1833 – opting instead to take up a three year position as the music director in Düsseldorf which came with a remuneration package of 600 Thalers along with a 3 month annual vacation.
After a year at Düsseldorf, he grew dissatisfied and left the position for one in Leipzig as the municipal music director and the Gewandhaus Orchestra conductor at a salary of 1,000 Thalers with 6 months annual leave. Under his direction the orchestra became one of the most prestigious in Europe, performing a mix of instrumental and vocal music – ‘classical’ as well as contemporary (romantic).
Shattered by the loss of his father on November 19, 1835, he rededicated himself to the completion of his oratorio St. Paul, which was premiered on May 22, 1836 at the 18th Niederrheinisches Musikfest in Düsseldorf and was hailed as a milestone in the revival of the Oratorio. In March of that same year he was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Leipzig.
Mendelssohn had hoped to become the director of the Singakademie – the institution led by his former teacher Zelter, and where his acclaimed performance of the St. Mathew Passion had taken place. However, after Zelter’s death in 1832, the position was offered to another less-notable musician, and Felix turned down the assistant directorship that was offered to him in 1833 – opting instead to take up a three year position as the music director in Düsseldorf which came with a remuneration package of 600 Thalers along with a 3 month annual vacation.
After a year at Düsseldorf, he grew dissatisfied and left the position for one in Leipzig as the municipal music director and the Gewandhaus Orchestra conductor at a salary of 1,000 Thalers with 6 months annual leave. Under his direction the orchestra became one of the most prestigious in Europe, performing a mix of instrumental and vocal music – ‘classical’ as well as contemporary (romantic).
Shattered by the loss of his father on November 19, 1835, he rededicated himself to the completion of his oratorio St. Paul, which was premiered on May 22, 1836 at the 18th Niederrheinisches Musikfest in Düsseldorf and was hailed as a milestone in the revival of the Oratorio. In March of that same year he was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Leipzig.
His marriage to Cécile Jeanrenaud on 28 March 1937 seemed to further inspire him, and he completed 3 Organ Preludes & Fugues Op. 37, a setting to Psalm xlii (op. 43), String Quartet in E minor op.44 no.2 and Piano Concerto no.2 in D minor (op.40) in the two months following his honeymoon. The couple had five children, one of whom died at seven years of age due to health issues.
At the forefront of German music in the first part of the 19th century, Mendelssohn was in demand as a composer, a conductor, as well as an educator. In addition to churning out musical works, he was hired as a conductor to direct music festivals all over Europe between 1838 and 1842, and in 1843 founded the Leipzig Conservatory whose faculty included Robert Schumann.
When his sister Fanny died on May 14, 1847 of a paralytic stroke (while conducting her choir), Felix was devastated and turned to his painting (watercolors) for relief – not being able to compose for some months. Fanny had been his closest companion, his heart and soul since childhood, accompanying him on almost every major adventure in his life, and her passing ultimately proved to be more than he could take. He died November 4 in Leipzig at the age of 38 after suffering a series of strokes that left him severely weakened. He was buried next to Fanny in Berlin.
Mendelssohn left many unpublished works that were issued after his death, and his popularity remained high soon after his passing. However, in the wave of anti-Semitism which swept Germany and most of Europe for the next hundred years or so, his work was severely criticized and denigrated and his popularity hit an all-time low. However, in modern times there has been a tremendous revival of interest in and appreciation for his compositions, enabling him to once again regain his rightful place in the pantheon of the masters of musical composition.
At the forefront of German music in the first part of the 19th century, Mendelssohn was in demand as a composer, a conductor, as well as an educator. In addition to churning out musical works, he was hired as a conductor to direct music festivals all over Europe between 1838 and 1842, and in 1843 founded the Leipzig Conservatory whose faculty included Robert Schumann.
When his sister Fanny died on May 14, 1847 of a paralytic stroke (while conducting her choir), Felix was devastated and turned to his painting (watercolors) for relief – not being able to compose for some months. Fanny had been his closest companion, his heart and soul since childhood, accompanying him on almost every major adventure in his life, and her passing ultimately proved to be more than he could take. He died November 4 in Leipzig at the age of 38 after suffering a series of strokes that left him severely weakened. He was buried next to Fanny in Berlin.
Mendelssohn left many unpublished works that were issued after his death, and his popularity remained high soon after his passing. However, in the wave of anti-Semitism which swept Germany and most of Europe for the next hundred years or so, his work was severely criticized and denigrated and his popularity hit an all-time low. However, in modern times there has been a tremendous revival of interest in and appreciation for his compositions, enabling him to once again regain his rightful place in the pantheon of the masters of musical composition.