Isambard Brunel and Felix Mendelssohn

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Whilst courting his wife Mary, a Kensington beauty, Brunel met and enjoyed the company of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. Felix toured extensively as pianist and conductor, especially in England, where he was Queen Victoria and the Prince Albert's favourite. Chief amongst Mendelssohn's choral works are the oratorios, St. Paul (1832-36) and Elijah (1845-46). These coincide with the height of Brunel's engineering successes also. They shared an impeccable craftsmanship and a thorough knowledge and understanding of the media in which they were working.