ABSTRACT
Unlike many other musicians who visited England, Mendelssohn had not, in the first instance, intended to appear in public before audiences. His father, Abraham, a Berlin banker, had encouraged his gifted son to go ‘into the world’. Travelling to countries such as Italy, France, Germany and England would broaden his view of culture, and making the acquaintance of musicians and artists would be a valuable experience. Felix himself had little inkling that his first visit to England in 1829 would be a great musical success in his triple role of composer, conductor and pianist.
