Die erste Walpurgisnacht (The First Walpurgis Night) is a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, telling of the attempts of Druids in the Harz mountains to practice their pagan rituals in the face of new and dominating Christian forces. It was famously set to music by Felix Mendelssohn as a secular cantata for soloists (alto, tenor, baritone, bass), choir, and orchestra. He completed an initial version in 1831, and extensively revised it before publishing it as his opus 60 in 1843.
| Original Name | Die erste Walpurgisnacht |
| Librettist | Johann Wolfgang von Goethe |
| Date of composition | 1843 (1841-1843) |
| Premiered | 1843, February 2nd in Leipzig, Germany |
| First published | 1844, Kistner in Leipzig, Germany |
| Type | Cantata |
| Catalogue | Op. 60 |
| Spoken language | German |
| Instruments |
Voice (Alto)
Voice (Tenor) Voice (Baritone) Voice (Bass) Chorus/Choir Orchestra |
| Autotranslations beta |
Felix Mendelssohn: The First Walpurgis Night, Op. 60 Felix Mendelssohn: The First Walpurgis Night, Op. 60 Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: The First Walpurgis Night, Op. 60 |