Alfred Mendelsohn

Alfred Mendelsohn (17 February 1910 – 9 May 1966) was a Romanian composer. He was born and died in Bucharest.

Mendelssohn studied from 1927 to 1931 at the Music Academy in Vienna with Joseph Marx and Franz Schmidt and the Conservatory in Bucharest at Mihail Jora. From 1944 to 1963 he was conductor at the Romanian National Opera, 1949, he taught as professor of counterpoint at the Conservatory.

He composed several operas and ballets, eight symphonies and a dramatic symphony in seven scenes, a symphonic poem, a string suite, a cello concerto, two violin concertos, two piano concertos, chamber works, oratorios, cantatas, drama and film music, choral works and songs.

Selected Compositions

Stage

• Imnul iubirii (Love Anthem), opera (1946); libretto after Ivan Turgenev
• Harap Alb (The White Moor of Alexandru Jar by Ion Creanga), ballet (1948)
• Meşterul Manole (Master Manole), opera (1949); after a popular legend
• Călin, ballet (1956); choreography by Tildei Urseanu to Mihail Eminescu Urseanu
• Anton Pann, operetta (1961); libretto by Ion Roman and Radu Albala
• Michelangelo, opera (1964); libretto by the composer after Alexandru Kiriţescu
• Spinoza, opera (1966); libretto by Paul Sterian

Concertante

• Concerto for viola and orchestra (1965)

Chamber music

• Petite Suite for viola solo (1933)
• Suite for cello solo (1960)
• Partita (Prelude and Fugue) for violin solo