Felix Mendelssohn in London - the 1840's

from Music and manners; personal reminiscences and sketches of character, page 195:

Another incident, haud obliviscari took place that evening. He [Mendelsohnn] made me play a Bach prelude to him, with cold perspiration running down my back and in such an agony of nervousness as I have never since been called upon to fight against — I was only nine years old and extremely sensitive — and, when my terrible ordeal had come to an end, patted my head, kissed me between the eyes, and said: "Little fellow, you were born a musician, and will play the piano some day." I doubt whether that night there was another so happy…   more >>

cite as

William Beatty-Kingston, Music and manners; personal reminiscences and sketches of character, volume 1 (London, 1887), p. 195. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1447705841130 accessed: 29 March, 2024

location of experience: London

Listeners

Felix Mendelssohn
Organist, Composer, Conducting, Pianist
1809-1847

Listening to

hide composers
prelude
written by Bach
performed by William Beatty-Kingston

Experience Information

Date/Time the 1840's
Medium live
Listening Environment in the company of others, in private, indoors

Originally submitted by Meg Barclay on Mon, 16 Nov 2015 20:30:41 +0000
Approved on Fri, 20 Nov 2015 17:45:58 +0000