In 1840, Saxony celebrated the 400th anniversary of the invention of the printing press at great expense. The celebrations concluded with the performance of Mendelssohn's »Lobgesang« in Leipzig's Thomaskirche. At the time of going to press, the composer dedicated the symphonic cantata to the Saxon King Friedrich August II. The plan to officially tie the famous conductor to the residency fell through, but Mendelssohn was now often to be seen in Dresden. He also conducted the Royal Musical Orchestra on Palm Sunday 1843, when his oratorio »Paulus« was on the program.