Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847). German composer and musician
Composer Felix Mendelssohn was a German prodigy who began writing operas and symphonies before his public debut as a pianist at the age of nine. His classical style remains exciting today with his dramatic and, at times, fantastical chromatic harmony. His chamber works stand out for their virtuosity, particularly the String Octet (1825) written when he was only 16, alongside his Overture for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1826). Both showcase Mendelssohn’s unique and exciting treatment of melody, which he develops in later works, most notably his Violin Concerto (1838-1844), widely regarded as one of the greatest of all violin concertos. Though Mendelssohn himself never wrote a ballet, his music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been used by both George Balanchine and Fredrick Ashton. Balanchine also choreographed a ballet to Mendelssohn’s Scotch Symphony.