Mendelssohn was 17 when he wrote his first Midsummer Night’s Dream music, his Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream.1
Felix and his sister Fanny loved reading Shakespeare together as children. In 1826 he wrote to her that he would soon “dream the Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and about a month later he had composed his Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture (his Op. 21).2
Mendelssohn’s incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream (his Op. 61) was composed for a production of the play presented in Potsdam in 1843, to celebrate the birthday of King Wilhelm IV of Prussia, who commissioned the work. More performances followed at the Berlin Schauspielhaus.3
Mendelssohn reused his 1826 concert overture and added 12 more numbers and a finale to illustrate significant scenes in the production.
Mendelssohn tied the whole work together by using motifs from his 1826 concert overture throughout the movements of his incidental music.
