Felix Mendelssohn was a composer, pianist, conductor and musical prodigy whose music combined the clarity and elegance of the Classical tradition with the expressive richness of the Romantic era. Born into a wealthy and cultured family in Hamburg, he showed exceptional musical talent from an early age. His works include the overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Italian and Scottish Symphonies, Violin Concerto in E minor and numerous chamber and choral works. As a conductor and musical director, Mendelssohn played a major role in the revival of interest in the music of J. S. Bach. He founded the Leipzig Conservatory and was one of the leading musical figures of 19th-century Europe before his early death at the age of 38.