Mendelssohn’s Bar in Portland: Demystifying Classical Music One Cocktail at a Time

In Monday’s (7/12) Oregonian (Portland), Chiara Profenna writes, “Operatic voices reverberate throughout a quaint bar on North Mississippi Avenue—a typical Tuesday night for the musical regulars that frequent Mendelssohn’s, Portland’s one-of-a-kind classical music-themed bar…. Mendelssohn’s has become a gathering place for Portland’s musicians to sip on themed drinks, sing ballads from the high stage and meet other people interested in classical music…. Mendelssohn’s opened in June 2022 by musician and direct descendant of composer Felix Mendelssohn, Lisa Lipton. As Executive Director of both the Opera Theater Oregon and the Newport Symphony, her expertise, lineage, and charisma have all played a part in the bar’s success … Born from a desire to meet the growing needs of the classical music community and have a space to gather and practice, Mendelssohn’s invites patrons of all kinds to step in and immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of classical music…. Every other Tuesday night, musicians are given the opportunity to step into the dimly lit bar and take over the stage … Non-musicians are more than encouraged to participate … To encourage participation in classical music and introduce newcomers into the scene, Mendelssohn’s demystifies classical music and gives musicians a place to perform in front of an accepting audience.”