Felix Mendelssohn was a child prodigy to rival Mozart and achieved great fame during his lifetime, fêted across Europe, and composing in the widest possible range of musical genres. However, his music has also been denigrated for its elegance, charm and symmetry. This insightful biography explores the breadth of his achievements, the complexities of his privileged upbringing, and the reasons for the fluctuating nature of his reputation. Musical excerpts include the Violin Concerto, String Octet and Elijah, as well as his choral works, symphonies, sonatas and songs.

Artists

Leighton Pugh (narrator), Benjamin Frith (piano), Robin Tritschler (tenor), Malcolm Martineau (piano), Sonntraud Engels-Benz, Peter Holder, Stephen Tharp, Takako Nishizaki (violin), Laura Hicks, Peter Nagy (piano), Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Auer String Quartet, Kodály Quartet, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Stuttgart Chamber Choir, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, St. Albans Cathedral Girls Choir, Lay Clerks of St. Albans Cathedral Choir, Leipzig MDR Radio Choir, MDR Sinfonieorchester, Helmuth Rilling, Anthony Bramall, Frieder Bernius, Oliver von Dohnányi, Reinhard Seifried, Sir Neville Marriner, Tom Winpenny, Kenneth Jean, Jun Märkl