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Mendelssohn, the Nazis and Me

Documentaries

Factual: History

Music: Classical

26/06/2009

BBC Four - Mendelssohn, the Nazis and Me

How Mendelssohn's conflicted identity led to a fight for survival for his descendants.

Documentary looking at how Jewish composer Felix Mendelssohn's conflicted identity led to the banning of his music by the Nazis and a fight for survival for his descendents.

Felix Mendelssohn was a passionate Christian. He was also born a Jew. This film, marking the 200th anniversary of his birth, tells the extraordinary story of what happened, generations later, both to Mendelssohn's family and to his music, when the Nazis remembered the Jewish roots of Germany's most celebrated composer.  

It also examines how the influences of both Judaism and Christianity affected Mendelssohn's music and was made by documentary-maker Sheila Hayman, Mendelssohn's great-great-great-great niece.

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