Felix Mendelssohn

Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, known simply as Felix Mendelssohn (February 3, 1809 – November 4, 1847) was a German composer of the early Romantic period. He is often considered the greatest child prodigy after

Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, known simply as Felix Mendelssohn (February 3, 1809 – November 4, 1847) was a German composer of the early Romantic period. He is often considered the greatest child prodigy after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and judged purely on the music composed before the age of eighteen, perhaps a greater one.

Mendelssohn was born in Hamburg on February 3, 1809, the son of a banker, Abraham, who was himself the son of the famous Jewish philosopher, Moses Mendelssohn. Felix's family, however, converted to Lutheranism, and moved to Berlin in 1812. (Nazis would later cite his Jewish origin in banning his works and destroying a memorial statue.) His sister was Fanny Mendelssohn (later Fanny Hensel), who was a well-known pianist and amateur composer herself.