Mendelssohn's father, Abraham Mendelssohn, added 'Bartholdy' to the family surname after converting to Christian Protestantism.
Critical Reception
In Victorian England, Mendelssohn's music was considered 'well-mannered and likeable' compared to contemporaries like Chopin and Schumann, who were deemed 'too modern and emotionally somewhat unstable'.
Composer Biography
Mendelssohn was warmly received by Queen Victoria and her Consort, playing piano and organ for them at Buckingham Palace.
Critical Reception
George Bernard Shaw, an 'anti-Victorian', suggested that Mendelssohn's 'Songs without words' are 'too difficult' for many players, despite their apparent simplicity.
Historical Context
Felix Mendelssohn enjoyed enormous success in Victorian Britain, in contrast to his home country where he was once spat upon for being Jewish.
Compositional Technique
Nietzsche recognized Mendelssohn's disciplined craft for leading to 'new heights of formal subtlety', highlighting his true excellence.
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