Fanny & Felix Mendelssohn Museum

The Fanny & Felix Mendelssohn Museum stands in Hamburg’s Neustadt district, part of the city’s Composers Quarter. It occupies a building dedicated to the lives and work of the Mendelssohn siblings, Fanny and Felix. Opened in 2018, the museum explores their childhood, their careers as composers, and the challenges faced by Jewish artists in 19th-century Germany. Fanny wrote over four hundred songs during her lifetime, while Felix began composing as a teenager. Their mother first taught them piano, but later teachers included Ludwig Berger, Marie Bigot, and Carl Friedrich Zelter. The museum highlights how the siblings supported and inspired each other throughout their lives. A central fortepiano symbolises their lifelong dedication to music. Visitors can explore their creative processes through multimedia displays, listening to their compositions at audio points triggered by motion sensors. The exhibition draws on scholarly research, with musicologist Beatrix Borchard contributing to its development. Construction delays meant the full display was not ready at opening, and some interactive elements were added later. Inside, visitors find rooms arranged to guide them through the siblings’ story. Touch pads and display cabinets provide deeper insights into their work and historical context. Original pieces are rare, but the museum uses carefully selected artefacts and recordings. The space reflects a commitment to accurate, evidence-based presentation. Outside, the museum sits among other sites in the Composers Quarter, linking visitors to Hamburg’s musical heritage.