Duette: Mein Liebchen, wir sassen beisammen (Duet: My Sweetheart, We Sat Together)

Fanny Hensel, the granddaughter of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn and financier Daniel Itzig, and sister of the composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, was born in Hamburg into a wealthy family. A composer of numerous songs, piano compositions, cantatas, and other musical works, Hensel was pressured by her brother Felix (who claimed sole title to many of her works) and the general social attitude not to publish her music. She was married to the painter Wilhelm Hensel.

Born in the German town of Trebbin, the artist Wilhelm Hensel was the son of a Protestant preacher, brother of the poet Luise Hensel, and husband of the composer Fanny Mendelsson Hensel. Hensel painted and drew many portraits, eventually becoming the royal court painter in Berlin. He was also a writer and poet, and Fanny set some of his poetry to music. Wilhelm, in turn, illustrated the sheet music for some of Fanny’s compositions.