Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

The following year was eventful. He com posed five symphonies, nine fugues, several pieces for the piano, two operettas and a num ber. of songs. It was in this year, too, that he visited Goethe at Weimar. The poet was delighted with his talent. While at Weimar he played before the Grand Duke and Duchess and improvised before the court and also be fore Hummel. His compositions in 1822 were very numerous, and during this and the follow ing year he wrote six symphonies, five con certos, a piano quartet, a violin sonata, a Mag nificat and Gloria, and an opera in three acts, entitled

In 1824 his musical genius showed marked advance, as evidenced in his symphony in C minor, composed between 3 and 31 March. In the summer he was taken to Doberan on the Baltic, a seaside resort, and there received the impressions which later found expression in his appeared earlier, and as a piano duet, its first public per formance being given at Stettin in February 1827. Either during this or the previous year, Felix entered the University of Berlin, where he showed evidences of decided literary powers. On his return from Stettin he made prepara tions for his opera but owing to the opposition of the director, Spontini, it was perforated only once at that time, although, strange to relate, a complete performance of it was given at Boston, Mass., on 19 March 1855.

The principal compositions during 1828 were a cantata for the Tercentenary Festival of Al brecht Diirer, a cantata for a Congress of Science, an antiphon for four voices, and a concert overture. He also completed his over ture to Goethe's 'Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage.' During this year he organized a choir of 16 voices for practising Bach's Passion music. The year 1829 was an important one for Felix. Hitherto his father had not permitted him to regard himself as a professional musi cian, but this now being determined on, arrange ments were made for him to visit some of the great capitals, with a view of gaining materials for his greatest works. His first journey was to

England, where he arrived on 21 April 1829. He was received with much enthusiasm and also scored a success in society. His delight ful manners and unfailing animation charmed every one. In November he was again in Ber lin, and during the winter he completed the

Another visit to London was made in the spring of 1832, during which he composed with unabated vigor. Among the more important productions of this time were his musical repre sentation of Goethe's while he also maintained the excellence of the concerts for which he was responsible. The great oratorio was first produced at the Lower Rhine Festival at Diisseldorf 22 May 1836. About this time he took charge of the Frankfort Cficilien-Verein during the illness of the director, and there made the friendship of Madame Jean-Renaud and her family. He be came devotedly attached to her youngest daugh ter, Cecile, to whom he was married on 28 March 1837. Returning. to Leipzig he con ducted another successful season, closing with a performance of 'Saint Paul,' for the first time produced in that city. In August 1837, he left his bride for the purpose of conducting 'Saint Paul' at the Birmingham Festival. This was his fifth journey to England, and before he returned he held conferences with his friend, Klingermann, over the plan of a new oratorio having the prophet Elijah as the z-entral figure. He reached Leipzig on 1 Octo ber in time to conduct the first concert of the Gewandhaus on the same evening.