HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Fanny Hensel & Felix Mendelssohn

Felix Mendelssohn

Though born in Hamburg on 3 February 1809, Felix Mendelssohn (Mendelssohn Bartholdy) was raised in Berlin by a wealthy banker of a father who had renounced Judaism. Mendelssohn thus eluded circumcision, though was baptized at age seven in the Reformed Christian Church (erroneously identified as Calvinism). Mendelssohn's compositions matched his virtuosic piano and organ performances, but as a Jew regardless of his father's renunciation he had a nemesis in Richard Wagner who believed his music to be "washy," "whimsical" and "vague." The later Nazi regime would purge itself of Mendelssohn, regarding him a "dangerous accident" and "degenerate." He has otherwise been generally regarded as a genius, his some 750 works containing not a few masterpieces. He wrote largely choral and orchestral works, concertos, chamber pieces, songs and solos for keyboard. His older sister was composer and pianist, Fanny Hensel née Mendelssohn (14 November 1805-14 May 1847) married to the artist, Wilhelm Hensel, in 1829. Fanny wrote 466 works from 1819 to 1847 catalogued by "H" or "H-U" numbers per Renate Hellwig-Unruh's 'Fanny Hensel geb. Mendelssohn Bartholdy: thematisches Verzeichnis der Kompositionen' published in 2000. Those include such as string quartets and songs. Several of her compositions were used by Felix in his Op 8 of 1824 and Op 9 of 1829. Her own published opuses run to Op 11 printed posthumously in 1850. A few of her works are chronologically intermingled with Felix below.

Fanny Mendelssohn

Fanny Hensel née Mendelssohn

Painting by Moritz Daniel Oppenheim 1842

Source: Wikipedia

'Ihr Tone schwingt euch frohlich' Andante H 2 Song by Fanny Mendelssohn

'Your tone swings happily'

Composed at age 14 in 1819

Lyrics by anonymous

Piano: Kelvin Grout Soprano: Anne Grimm

Mendelssohn studied piano as a child, the prodigy also composing numerous works in 1820 including the three-act comedy, 'Lustspiel in 3 Szenen'. He finished his first Singspiel, 'Die Soldatenliebschaft' ('The Soldier’s Love Affair'), the same year, also arranging it for piano 4 hands.

'Die Soldatenliebschaft' MWV L 1 Piano 4 hands by Felix Mendelssohn

'The Soldier's Love'

Composed at age 11 in 1820

Piano: Franziska Lee / Sontraud Speidel

Music Room Das Orchester

Mendelssohn's first meeting with Johann Goethe, a strong influence, occurred at age twelve in 1821. Goethe (1749-1832) was a key figure in the rise of the Romantic period. At about age thirteen Mendelssohn was composing string symphonies well enough to perform them at salons held by his parents. He authored his 'Piano Concerto in A minor' in 1822. His Op 1 No.1 is 'Piano Quartet in C minor' composed in 1822, published the next year [Johnston]. Mendelssohn's Opuses are catalogued by himself up to Op 72. Opp 73-121 were catalogued posthumously. "MWV" numbering in Mendelessohn is per the Mendelssohn-Werkverzeichnis project of 2009 headed by Ralf Wehner.

'Concerto' A minor MWV O 2 Felix Mendelssohn

Premiere 5 Dec 1822 in Berlin

Camerata Zürich / Igor Karsko Piano: Ivana Gavrić 22 Nov 2022

IMSLP

In 1824 Mendelssohn completed his 'Symphony No. 1 in C minor' Op 11. Mendelssohn also studied under Ignaz Moscheles in 1824, who later stated that there wasn't a lot that his pupil didn't already know. It was 1825 when Mendelssohn composed his seventh opera 'Die Hochzeit des Camacho' ('The Wedding of Comacho') Op 10, not to premiere until 19 April 1827 at the Schauspielhaus in Berlin. More properly a Singspiel, 'Die Hochzeit des Camacho' is the tale of one Quinteria promised by her father to marry Camacho although her true love is Basilio. This is a comedy by Friedrich Voigt taken from Cervantes' 'Don Quixote' of 1605/15 including the characters, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. See Compositions: Individual: Chronological further below for titles with extensive references.

'Symphony No.1' C minor Op 11 MWV N 13 Felix Mendelssohn

Private premiere 14 Nov 1824 in Berlin (Fanny Mendelssohn's 19th birthday)

Public premiere 1 Feb 1827 in Leipzig

Published in parts dedicated to the London (Royal) Philharmonic Society 1834

Orchestra of the Musikgymnasium Schloss Belvedere / Joan Pagès Valls

Hochbegabtenzentrum of the University of Music in Berlin 28 Sep 2016

Hyperion IMSLP John Palmer Wikipedia

Overture to 'Die Hochzeit des Camacho' Op 10 MWV L 5 Felix Mendelssohn

Completed 10 Aug 1825 Revised 1827

Premiere at the Schauspielhaus in Berlin 19 April 1827

Libretto: Friedrich Voigts after Miguel de Cervantes

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner

IMSLP Wikipedia

It was also 1825 when Mendelssohn wrote a translation of Terence's 'Andria' for his tutor, Karl Wilhelm Ludwig Heyse which the latter published in 1826. That work gained Mendelssohn entry to Humboldt University of Berlin in 1826 where he studied until 1829. Mendelssohn was sixteen years of age when he finished his 'Octet in E-flat major' for strings Op 20 in October of 1825. It was published in 1833 dedicated to his violin teacher, Eduard Ritz (1802-32), who had died the ear before. It didn't see a performance until 30 January 1836 at the Leipzig Gewandhaus [IMSLP].

'Octet' E-flat major Op 20 MWV R 20 Felix Mendelssohn

Scored for 4 violins / 2 violas / 2 cellos

Completed 15 Oct 1825 in Berlin Private premiere probably 1825

Public premiere 30 Jan 1836 in Leipzig

Published in dedication to Mendelssohn's violin teacher Eduard Ritz (1802-32) 1833

Violin: Janine Jansen /Ludvig Gudim /Johan Dalene / Sonoko Miriam Welde

Viola: Amihai Grosz / Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad Cello: Jens Peter Maintz / Alexander Warenberg

International Chamber Music Festival Utrecht, Netherlands 27 Dec 2019

Another strong influence on Mendelssohn was William Shakespeare. His overture to 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' Op 21 premiered on 27 February 1827. His second project dedicated to 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' was incidental music catalogued as Op 61 performed with the play fifteen years later in Potsdam on 14 October 1843.

'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' E major Op 21 MWV P 3 Overture by Felix Mendelssohn

Completed 6 Aug 1826 in Berlin Premiere 20 Feb 1827

Frankfurt Radio Symphony / Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Rheingau Music Festival at the Eberbach Monastery in Germany 19 June 2020

Mendelssohn's earlier 'Die Hochzeit des Camacho' (above) wasn't received well by critics, so he completed only one more opera, his one-act Singspiel, 'Die Heimkehr aus der Fremde' ('The Return from Abroad'), first performed at his home for an audience of 120 on 26 December 1829. Also known by other titles such as 'Son and Stranger', this comedy is an exercise of the familiar theme in opera which is disguise and mistaken identity. In this story the imposter is a peddler named Kauz who impersonates the missing son, Hermann, of a certain Mayor Schultz to gain the hand of the latter's ward, Lisbeth. That attempt, of course, must fail upon Hermann's return, also in disguise.

Overture to 'Die Heimkehr aus der Fremde' Op 89 MWV L 6 Felix Mendelssohn

Completed 19 Dec 1829

Private premiere 26 Dec 1829 at Mendelssohn's home in Berlin

Public premiere 10 April 1851 in Leipzig

Libretto: Karl Klingemann

Royal Northern Sinfonia / Martin Yates

Susan Halpern IMSLP Michael Morrison Wikipedia

The first volume of Mendelssohn's most famous work, 'Lieder ohne Worte' ('Songs without Words'), appeared in 1832. Having begun to write 'Songs without Words' in 1829, it would eventually include 48 pieces in eight volumes of six pieces each composed to 1845. The single work titled 'Lied ohne Worte' ('Song without Words') Op 109 that was composed in 1845 for cellist, Lisa Cristiani, wasn't a part of the greater oeuvre of eight volumes and wasn't published until after Mendelssohn's death [IMSLP / Villa Musica].

'Songs Without Words' 8 books of 6 songs each Felix Mendelssohn

Opp 19, 30, 38, 53, 62, 67, 85, 102

Composed 1829-45

Piano: Frank van de Laar

Library of Congress Scores Wikipedia

Mendelssohn traveled to London in 1829, then other points throughout Europe. His visit to Fingal's Cave on Scottish island of Staffa inspired the overture, 'Die Hebriden', completed in 1830, revised in 1832.

'Die Hebriden' Op 26 MWV P 7 Overture by Felix Mendelssohn

Completed 16 Dec 1830 Revised 1832 /1833

Premiere 14 Aug 1832 in London Published 1833

San Francisco Conservatory of Music Orchestra / Scott Sandmeier

Britannica Classical Music Hollywood Bowl IMSLP Wikipedia

Fanny Mendelssohn wrote her 'Overture in C minor' in 1832, the same year that her brother commenced 'Six Preludes and Fugues' Op 35 toward publishing in 1837. Felix began Op 35 with the fugues of No.1 and No.3. The preludes to those weren't authored until 1837.

'Overture' C major H 265 Fanny Mendelssohn 1832

ROCO Ensemble / Mei-Ann Chen

Joseph Bozich Alex Burns IMSLP Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra

'Prelude and Fugue in E minor' Op 35 No.1 Felix Mendelssohn

Prelude MWV U 116 composed 1837 Fugue MWV U 66 composed 1832-37

Piano: Rudolf Serkin Royal Festival Hall in London 3 Feb 1975

IMSLP Wikipedia

Mendelssohn became musical director for the city of Düsseldorf in 1833, then Leipzig the next year. He married one Cécile Charlotte Sophie Jeanrenaud on 28 March 1837. Her father a clergyman in the French Reformed Church, she would have five children. Come 1840 Mendelssohn was in Berlin performing various musical tasks for King Frederick William IV of Prussia. He founded the Leipzig Conservatory in 1843. In the meantime he had composed such as his 'Italian Symphony' in 1833 commissioned by the London Philharmonic Society (now the Royal Philharmonic Society) and his 'Piano Trio No.1' in D minor in 1839.

'Symphony No.4' 'Italian Symphony' Op 90 Felix Mendelssohn

Completed 13 May 1833 Revised 1834 Published 1851

Premiere 13 May 1833 w the London Philharmonic Society conducted by Mendelssohn

Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Georg Solti

'Notturno' G minor H 337 Fanny Mendelssohn 1838

Piano: Heather Schmidt

IMSLP Score

'Piano Trio No.1' D minor Op 49 MWV Q 29 Felix Mendelssohn

Completed 23 Sep 1839 Premiere 1 Feb 1840 in Leipzig Published 1840

Mendelssohn at piano w Ferdinand David at violin and Carl Wittmann at cello

ATOS Trio:

Thomas Hoppe at piano w Annette von Hehn at violin and Stefan Heinemeyer at cello

Hollywood Bowl Hyperion IMSLP Wikipedia

Mendelssohn's 'Violin Concerto in E minor' Op 64 arrived in 1845 toward publishing that year in dedication to composer and violinist, Ferdinand David. In 1846 he made his ninth of ten visits to England to premiere his oratorio, 'Elijah', at the Birmingham City Hall. Elijah refers to the prophet in the first and second books of 'Kings' and 'Malachi' in the Old Testament whose name means "My God is Jah" (Yahweh) in contest with Baal of the Canaanites. 'Elijah' was revised in 1847.

'Violin Concerto No.2' E minor Op 64 MWV O 14 Felix Mendelssohn

Premiere 13 March 1845 in Leipzig Published 1845

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra / Maestro Kent Nagano

Violin: Ray Chen

'Elijah' Op 70 MWV A 25 Sacred oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn

Premiere 26 Aug 1846 in Birmingham Published 1847

Choeur de Radio France Orchestre / National de France / Daniele Gatti

Soprano: Lucy Crowe

Fanny wrote her 'Piano Trio' in D minor Op 11 (her last) in 1847 before dying of stroke that year in Berlin on 14 May at only age forty-one. Mendelssohn left his final opera, 'Loreley' Op 98 unfinished upon his own death of stroke later the same year on 4 November. Lorelei is a mountain in Germany along the Rhine.

'Piano Trio' D minor Op 11 Fanny Mendelssohn

1847 Published 1850

The Abegg Trio

IMSLP LA Phil Wikipedia

It was Mendelssohn's tenth and last visit to England in 1847 that had found him becoming ill to the point of death back across the Channel in Leipzig, yet another composer who lived but half an average lifetime, buried at age thirty-six. Both of Mendelssohn's parents, as well as his grandfather, had died of stroke alike Fanny and himself. In addition to music, Mendelssohn was also a skilled watercolor landscape painter.

Watercolor by Felix Mendelssohn