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Most scholars since World War Two have assumed that composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847) maintained a strong attachment to Judaism throughout his lifetime. As these commentators have rightly noted, Mendelssohn was born Jewish and did not convert to Protestantism until age seven, his grandfather was the famous Jewish reformer and philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, and his music was banned by the Nazis, who clearly viewed him as a Jew. Such facts tell only part of the story, however. Drawing on his recent research on Felix Mendelssohn and the Mendelssohn family, Sposato will explore new answers to the so-called Mendelssohn Jewish question.

Jeffrey S. Sposato is assistant professor of musicology at the Moores School of Music, University of Houston. He received a PhD in musicology from Brandeis University, an MM and BM in vocal performance from New England Conservatory, and a BA in German studies from Tufts University. His teaching and research interests include music of the classical and romantic periods, sacred music, choral music, and opera.

Sposato's most recent book, "The Price of Assimilation: Felix Mendelssohn and the Nineteenth-Century Anti-Semitic Tradition" (Oxford, 2006), was named a Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2006 and a Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award finalist. His other publications include "William Thomas McKinley: A Bio-Bibliography" (Greenwood, 1995), as well as several articles on Mendelssohn and his times.

The Center for Jewish History, Forchheimer Auditorium
15 W. 16th Street (between 5th and 6th Aves., north side of the street)
New York, NY 10011
This event is free and open to the public

The Jewish Music Forum is presented by the American Society for
Jewish Music and co-sponsored by The American Jewish Historical Society.
www.jewishmusicforum.org