How A Midsummer Night’s Dream Became Mendelssohn’s Work of a Lifetime

Felix Mendelssohn was only a child when he and his sister, Fanny, first read Shakespeare’s mystical play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The story captured their imaginations, and they would reenact the story play the parts. Although they read many plays together, A Midsummer Night’s Dream was among Felix’s favorites. According to Fanny:

“We were entwined in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Felix particularly made it his own. He identified with all of the characters. He recreated them, so to speak, every one of them whom Shakespeare produced in the immensity of his genius.”

So when Mendelssohn sat down to compose music for his favorite play, the magic picked up right where Shakespeare left off.

It is widely accepted that the most fascinating anecdote of this piece is the career-length of time between its overture and the rest of the incidental music. Mendelssohn was only 17 when he composed the famous overture, while the rest of the music was written 16 years later—just years before he died. The childlike wonder of the music from Mendelssohn’s early career did not disappear when he revisited the whimsical story in his 30s. The preoccupation with the fantasy can be heard just as easily. The “Nocturne” displays the night rituals, while the “Scherzo” captures the tricks and snickering. The mischief, mythical fairies and innocent lovers that Shakespeare brought to life is in every color of Mendelssohn’s music.

The innocent fascination of the boy who composed the overture never died. Mendelssohn is, to be sure, the “boy who wouldn’t grow up”—his spirit immortally pressed into the pages of his magical score.

Have a listen to the overture, composed when Mendelssohn was a teenager:

Now, hear that same youthful spirit in the scherzo, written when the composer was in his 30s:

It is rare that the overture is performed alongside the music that Mendelssohn composed later to accompany it. You do not want to miss the famous selections from both ages of this immortal piece at the NJSO’s season finale, June 6–9!

Puck: How now, spirit? Whither wander you?
To the NJSO concert, at once!

» Concert info & tickets

 

Post by Michael Rosin