Thanks to his father Abraham's conversion to Protestantism, the family acquired the suffix "Bartholdy." Although Felix used the expanded name, publishers and the public preferred the simpler name "Mendels' son."
The Hamburg-born composer, born on February 3, 1809, enjoyed great popularity in Victorian England even before Victoria's reign. His charming personality, diligence, and organizational skills were highly valued. His compositions differed markedly from the works of his contemporaries, which were considered too modern.
Mendelssohn Bartholdy was favored by Queen Victoria and her husband. He performed for the royal couple at their gatherings and was described as a friendly and intelligent man. Even when the royal family played music, it brought the artist joy.
In her notes, Queen Victoria described the German musician as amiable and intelligent. However, his impressive performances for the royal couple exhausted him.
During his two-month stay in London, the Leipzig-based composer was once again received by the monarch and played with her in the salon. She admired his affable nature and sharp intellect.
The musical style of the composer, who died in 1847, defied easy categorization. He was described as a classical Romantic. His subtle handling of form opened new avenues in the musical world.
Philip Radcliffe emphasized Mendelssohn's melodic flow. While his harmonic structures may not have been as imaginative as Chopin's, they nevertheless demonstrated great sensitivity.
Despite varying assessments, the art of this important Romantic composer will continue to captivate Anglo-American audiences. In a society lacking outstanding artistic geniuses, his talent should not be underestimated.