Description:

Felix Mendelssohn
Berlin, Germany, April 11, 1830
Felix Mendelssohn Signed Letter to Adolf Lindblad
LS
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847). Letter Signed, "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy", 4pp bifolium, in German, 8.75" x 10.25", Berlin, Germany, April 11, 1830. Untranslated. Integral address panel to friend and fellow composer Adolf Lindblad in Stockholm. Expected mailing folds, some bearing previous tape repair. Tears to edges, one of which affects a few words of text on the third page. Toning and soiling. Discoloration, mostly isolated to address leaf. Overall, in near very good condition. Ex-Christie's, 2003; The Estate of Theodore Cohn, Christie's, 2022.

A lengthy letter, densely penned in an unknown hand, dictated by Mendelssohn while he was ill with measles. Here, Mendelssohn discusses his health and his agreement with Lindblad to exchange new compositions, chiding Lindblad for not sending anything in return: "We had made an agreement to exchange our new compositions, and so I sent you my new quartet in A minor [op. 13] in the hope of soon making acquaintance with something new from you: thereafter you write again and announce to me camp sonatas and fugues [Lager-Sonaten, Lager-Fugen] and a quintet, which you are supposed to have sent to me via Magnus; Magnus arrived, and had had nothing from you..."

Mendelssohn continues with his strong dislike of composer Franz Berwald, stating that Berwald's compositions resemble those of someone who "creates nothing of his own, but rather produces borrowed thoughts bit by bit and tries to sprinkle them with all sorts of strangeness...that's how it seemed to me in his compositions, stuffed with strange harmonies". He also mentions his outrage at Berwald for daring to criticize Beethoven's "Fidelio".

Mendelssohn was a German composer, pianist, organist, and conductor of the early Romantic period. His compositions include symphonies, concertos, piano music, organ music, and chamber music. One of Mendelssohn's best known works is "Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream" which he wrote in 1826 at just 17-years-old. Tragically, Mendelssohn's youngest son, Felix August, contracted measles in 1844, and, left with impaired health, died in 1851.

Adolf Lindblad (1801-1878) was a Swedish composer from the Romantic era. He is mostly known for his compositions of Swedish song or lieder, of which he produced over 200. He was a well-respected friend of Felix Mendelssohn, and had a collaborative relationship with the famous Swedish soprano, Jenny Lind.

Franz Berwald (1796-1868) was a Swedish Romantic composer and violinist. He made his living as an orthopedist, and later as the manager of a saw mill and glass factory. Berwald became more appreciated as a composer after his death than he had been in his lifetime.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.75" x 10.25"
  • Medium: LS

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