Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn  (1809-1847)  was called the “Mozart of the 19th century” by Robert Schumann.   Shortly after his death however, Wagner wrote “Jewishness in Music”  an antisemitic essay which calls Mendelssohn’s music “sweet and tinkling without depth”  As a result Mendelssohn’s popularity diminished greatly after his death.  Later under the Nazis performance of Mendelssohn’s music was banned.  Many of Mendelssohn’s works had to be smuggled out of Germany just prior to World War II.

In recent years Mendelssohn’s music has enjoyed somewhat a revival and his importance as a Romantic era composer has been recognized.  Many of his works are just now being rediscovered, including hundreds of unpublished scores and alternate versions of known works.

The Mendelssohn Project is dedicated to rediscovering and preserving the legacy of the Mendelssohn family including Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn.   The project has compiled a comprehensive list of Mendelssohn compositions, letters and artwork and promotes concerts and the recording of unrecorded or unpublished works.  Check out the website here