Fanny Hensel and Felix Mendelssohn featured in musical tributes

Musical institutions in Germany and Austria are highlighting the works of composer Fanny Hensel and her brother, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.

In Kassel, Germany, the Kreuzkirche will host a concert on November 1, 2026, featuring Fanny Hensel’s oratorio based on biblical images alongside Felix Mendelssohn’s Psalm 42. The performance, conducted by Jochen Faulhammer with the Kammerorchester ACCOMPAGNATO, aims to showcase the distinct musical identities of the siblings.

In Salzburg, Austria, the Mozarteum Orchestra and Mozarteum University are dedicating a focus week to Fanny Hensel. The program includes a performance of her piano cycle ‘Das Jahr’ (1841) with orchestration by Detlev Glanert. While Hensel’s compositions were often published under her brother's name during her lifetime, recent efforts aim to expand the orchestral repertoire of her approximately 450 works.