Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, (JAKOB LUDWIG) FELIX, 18091847

German composer of Jewish birth but Christian education. He came of a family prominent in letters and society; his father, Abraham, was a wealthy banker. His first teacher was his mother, but his precocity was great and as a lad he studied pianoforte with Berger ger and composition with Zelter. He first played in public 1818, 1818, and began composition 1820. At 17 he wrote the overture to Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, still one of his most finished and popular pieces. His only opera, Die Hochzeit des Camacho (he left an unfinished fragment of another, Lorelei ) was produced 1827. His great popularity was founded in England, whither he first went 1829. He conducted 1829 in Berlin the first performance of the Pas sion Music According to St. Matthew, since Bach's death, 1750.