A Portrait of Mendelssohn.

A Portrait of Mendelssohn, by Clive Brown. Yale University Press (P.O. Box 209040, New Haven, CT 06520-9040), 2003. 384pp. $45.

Those expecting yet another standard biographical treatment of Mendelssohn will be pleasantly surprised by this thorough exploration of Mendelssohn--the man and the musician. Instead of following a standard birth-to-death approach, Clive Brown treats us to a segmented one that delves into the man, his many talents, including art, his background, religion and race, professional career, teaching, composing and his critical reception both during and after his lifetime.

Brown relies heavily on Mendelssohn's contemporaries, including lengthy reviews and a generous number of memoirs and letters; these sometimes lengthy entries provide some fascinating reading. In this treatment, the picture of Mendelssohn as seen in his lifetime emerges clearly as a highly respected, polished professional of refined tastes and strong work ethic.

Particularly interesting are the sections dealing with the young Mendelssohn and the impression he made on German musical life as a performer, conductor and composer, as well as those dealing with his leadership of the Gewandhaus Orchestra and the founding of the Leipzig Conservatory. The comments by Mendelssohn's students leave no doubt that he was a revered, highly demanding teacher who generated considerable awe among them. It becomes clear that Mendelssohn also was shrewd in advancing his career and judging the ability and integrity of others as he negotiated his professional engagements and dealt with colleagues. And it is interesting to see the variety of viewpoints on Mendelssohn in various parts of Germany; his reception in Berlin being decidedly different than that of Leipzig. Brown gives special attention to Mendelssohn's interest in the oratorio, going into great detail regarding the critical reception of both St. Paul and Elijah, in addition to the general discussion of his overall output.

While this segmented, scholarly approach presents more of a challenge to the reader to integrate, as opposed to a typical biographical narrative, it is well worth the effort. The author strives greatly, and succeeds, in giving a balanced picture, both pro and con, of Mendelssohn as seen through the lense of his era. Reviewed by Richard Crosby, Richmond, Kentucky.