Felix Mendelssohn is an acclaimed conductor and composer. Today, his name is associated with the "Wedding March", without which no wedding ceremony can be imagined.
It was in demand in all European countries. High-ranking officials admired his musical works. Possessing a unique memory, Mendelssohn created dozens of compositions that were included in the list of immortal hits.
Childhood and youth
Felix was lucky enough to be born into a wealthy family. And it's not just the financial component. The head of the family held the position of director of a banking house, and, among other things, he was well versed in art. Grandfather Mendelssohn gave him a legacy - eloquence and wisdom. He was a famous philosopher.
The renowned composer hails from Hamburg. The maestro's date of birth is February 3, 1809. Felix was born into a large family. He was incredibly lucky, because his parents had the opportunity to give their children a decent education and upbringing. Noble guests often came to the Mendelssohn's house - from philosophers and poets to composers and famous musicians.
Felix's mother noticed that her son was drawn to music. She managed to direct the creative potential of Mendelssohn in the right direction in time. He began to study musical notation, and also worked diligently with the teacher Ludwig Berger. Felix mastered the viola and violin, and soon decided to learn to play the piano as well. Despite such a young age, Mendelssohn was a very developed personality. In parallel with the lessons on musical instruments, he also hones his vocal abilities.
The first works from the pen of Mendelssohn came out at the age of 9. The boy wrote mainly short pieces of music for piano and organ. Honored guests who visited the maestro's house sincerely admired his abilities.
Soon the first concert of the musician took place. However, Mendelssohn did not dare to submit to the public compositions of his own composition. Before the public, he played music, using the work of other authors. Soon he pleased the audience with the opera "Two Nephews".
The Mendelssohn family traveled a lot. As a teenager, Felix visited colorful Paris with his father. In the new country, the young talent demonstrated his own musical works. Mendelssohn's compositions were met there very warmly, but he himself was dissatisfied with the mood that prevailed in France.
Upon arrival home, he sat down to write the opera Camacho's Marriage. In 1825 the work was completely finished and presented to the general public.
The creative path of maestro Felix Mendelssohn
1831 was a landmark year for the maestro. It was this year that he presented a chic overture to Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream. The work was saturated with lyrics and tender romanticism. Part of the overture contained the same wedding march that everyone knows today. At the time of the creation of the work, the composer was barely 17 years old.
A year later, the stage adaptation of Camacho's Wedding took place. Music critics spoke well of the work, which cannot be said about the theatrical community. The latter did not give the maestro's work a chance to live. The composer was depressed. After that, he decides to move away from the theater and focus on creating instrumental compositions. Active creative activity did not prevent the composer from studying at the University. Humboldt, which was located in Berlin.
Felix's youth idol was Bach. At that time, Bach for most Europeans was on a par with God. Soon Mendelssohn presented The Matthew Passion. He gave immortal creation Baha new, more melodic sound. At that time, it became one of the most high-profile events of the year. After that, Felix went on his first large-scale tour.
Tour by Felix Mendelssohn
The maestro went to the territory of London. In front of a demanding audience, the musician performed works of his own authorship. In addition, he played long-loved melodies by Weber and Beethoven. Around the same time period, he visited Scotland. Impressed by the unreal beauty, he creates the Scottish Symphony.
When Felix returned to his native Germany, he was greeted with great honors. He returned as a real celebrity. His concerts were sponsored by his father, who considered his son a real genius. After a short break, the musician visits Austria, Italy, France. Soon he will also visit Rome. It was here that he would write The First Walpurgis Night. In support of the new work, Mendelssohn will once again go on tour.
At the same time he took the position of the head of the Gewandhaus Orchestra. The workers who were in the orchestra were imbued with great love and respect for the new leader. The musicians toured a lot, and quickly gained popularity in Europe. Soon Felix began to write the triptych "Elia - Paul - Christ".
In 1841, another significant event happened to Felix. The fact is that Friedrich Wilhelm IV instructed the maestro to reform the Royal Academy of Arts in Berlin. At the same time, the composer presented the amazing oratorio Elia. Critics and music lovers so warmly accepted the novelty that Mendelssohn once again got inspired. He wanted to continue to create and delight the fans who follow his work with new music.
Creativity did not prevent Mendelssohn from thinking about more significant matters. He wanted to create an educational institution for people who live by music. The maestro petitioned for the establishment of the Leipzig Conservatory. It was opened in 1843, and most importantly, a portrait of her "father" - Felix Mendelssohn - still hangs within the walls of the educational institution.
Details of privacy
The personal life of the maestro has developed very successfully. He managed to find the very woman who became for him not only the love of his life, but also a muse. Cecile Jeanrenot - that was the name of the maestro's wife, became Mendelssohn's support and support. The couple legalized their relationship in 1836. She was the pastor's daughter. Cecile was distinguished by a good disposition and complaisant character.
The wife inspired the composer to write new works. Thanks to Cecile's innate calmness, harmony and family comfort reigned in the house. In this marriage, the couple had 5 children.
Interesting facts about the composer Felix Mendelssohn
- Mendelssohn was friends with famous composers - Chopin and Liszt.
- Felix was a doctor of philosophy.
- He composed over 100 major works.
- The composer's museum is located in Germany, in Leipzig, in the same building where he survived his last stroke.
- "Wedding March" became popular only after the death of the maestro.
The last years of the life of the maestro
In 1846 he began to have health problems. He returned after a tour and began to write the triptych "Christ". Felix's health deteriorated, making it virtually impossible for him to return to work. The composer felt very bad. He suffered from weakness and migraines. Doctors recommended that Mendelssohn take a creative break.
Soon the composer's sister died, and this event aggravated the maestro's condition. He deeply suffered the death of a dear person. In the autumn of 1847, Mendelssohn suffered a stroke and could not recover for a long time. The composer's condition worsened. He hardly walked. A month later, the stroke recurred. Alas, his body could not cope with the blow. The composer died on November 4, 1847.
