24. Although, or perhaps because, he had no “special duties” to perform
as “Kapellmeister” in Berlin, the time he spent there was productive of
great work. Amongst other things he composed the music to Sophocles’s
Antigone, in the surprisingly short time of eleven days. It was
performed on the 28th of October, 1841, at the King’s Palace in Potsdam,
a select audience being invited on that occasion.
In the Sketch taken from Mrs. Moscheles’s album, Mendelssohn gives the
stage arrangements, as made for the performance at the Berlin theatre:--
_a b._ Curtain and line of Proscenium.
_c d._ Scene representing Palace.
_x._ Altar to Bacchus.
_a e b._ Orchestra 5’ above the floor.
_a b._ 5’ above the orchestra.
_f g_, _h i_. Steps leading to the stage.
_k l_, _m n_. Steps leading to the orchestra.
_y z._ The usual limit between the orchestra and the
first row of stalls.
_y o p z._ Space for the instrumentalists.
“This, however, is not from ‘Antigone,’ but in remembrance of many a
happy gathering, of all the happy days of last spring, and of
“Yours gratefully,