Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

FE- LIX (-bär-töl'dē), a German composer; born in Hamburg, Feb. 3, 1809. He was the son of a rich banker, and the grandson of the above philosopher. His incredible facility in playing music at sight, exrasbooy FELIX MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY cited the wonder of his teachers-Zelter and Berger. In his ninth year he performed at a public concert in Berlin, to the admiration of his audience. The following year the boy artist accompanied his parents to Paris; and when he was 12 years old, he composed his pianoforte quartette in C minor. His first compositions were published in 1824. These were soon followed by many others. Three years afterward he made a musical tour through Italy, France, and England; and gave, in London, his first symphony, y, and his overture to the "Midsummer Night's Dream." In 1833, he was appointed to the directorship of the concerts and theater of Düsseldorf, where, in 1835, he produced his great oratorio of "Paulus"; and 10 years afterward he accepted the same office at Leipsic. His symphonies are ranked only second to those of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. He died in Leipsic, Nov. 4, 1847, MENDÈS, CATULLE (mong-des'), a French writer; born in Bordeaux, France, May 22, 1843. His verse is marked by extreme devotion to form; his style has been called the cameo-art in literature. The collection entitled "Poesies" appeared in 1878. In prose he wrote: "Love's Follies" (1877); "Parisian Monsters" (1882); "To Read at the Bath" (1884); "Grande-Maguet" (1888); etc.; the dramas "Captain Fracasse" (1870); "Fiamette" (1889); etc. He died Feb. 8, 1909.