„I found him sitting on a stool at a small table, writing with the utmost seriousness. When I asked what he was doing, he replied earnestly: ‘I am just finishing my new quartet for piano and string instruments.’ Looking over his shoulder, I saw a beautiful score, written as if by a trained copyist. Then, forgetting the quartets, we went down into the garden, where he leaped over tall hedges, ran, sang, and climbed trees like a squirrel.”

Carl Friedrich Zelter, Mendelssohn’s teacher, recognized his extraordinary talent early on. Today, on his birthday, we look back on the life of one of the greatest musicians of his time. The young Felix amazed everyone who knew him with his boundless energy and talent. As the son of a wealthy and educated Jewish family that later converted to Protestantism, he received exceptional support. Growing up in a household shaped by art, philosophy, and science, he thrived in an intellectually stimulating environment.

His musical rise began early. At the age of nine, Felix performed as a pianist and conductor before an enthusiastic circle of family and friends. Some of the greatest German writers, poets, and philosophers, such as Heine, Alexander von Humboldt, and Jakob Grimm, were among the family’s acquaintances. By the age of ten, Felix had already begun composing.

But Mendelssohn’s passions extended beyond music. At twelve, he and his siblings founded a handwritten family newspaper, “Der Gartenverein” (“The Garden Club”). He was also an avid painter—especially of landscapes from his travels, often captured in stunning watercolors. Poetry was another of his talents; he wrote his own poems and song lyrics. This versatility shows that his artistic gifts reached far beyond music.

His compositions balanced classical structure with romantic expression. While some of his contemporaries embraced dramatic intensity, Mendelssohn’s style remained clear, refined, and melodic. His “Songs Without Words” reflect this simplicity infused with deep emotion.

A defining moment in his legacy was his rediscovery of Johann Sebastian Bach. In 1829, he brought the long-forgotten St. Matthew Passion back to the stage in Berlin, ushering in the Bach revival of the 19th century.

Throughout his life, Mendelssohn remained an artist with an acute sense of beauty, harmony, and expression. He was no revolutionary, but he was a master of clarity—preserving classical traditions while filling them with romantic depth.

 B.