Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn was born on February 3rd 1809 in Hamburg Germany. He was one of
very few Jewish composers in this time period, the only other is Gustav Mahler. His grandfather
was a very well-known Jewish philosopher, Moses Mendelssohn. His father was a banker, and
his mother a musician. They were from the German middle class society. They together where a
very well known, distinguished family. Around 1811 the entire family was forced to move from
Hamburg to Berlin. They moved for “political” reasons. At the age of seven Felix and the rest of
his siblings were baptized by their father. In a few years their father would also convert to
Christianity.
Even though the tolerance of the 19th century was increasing, it was still easier to make
