Person details

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

Jakub Ludwig Felix

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix (1809-1847). German composer. Grandson of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. As a child prodigy displayed unsurpassed talents for his age as pianist, violinist and composer. During his maturity – from the middle- to late-1820s onwards – equally active as conductor and composer at the forefront of developing Western art music culture. Although he seems not to have visited Prague, Mendelssohn and his music had a marked influence upon the developing styles of several leading Czech composers during the mid-nineteenth century, even to the extent of one subsequently gaining the unfortunate nickname ‘Bendlssohn’.