As a composer, Mendelssohn was self-critical and often reworked his music. The knowledge of Goethe's failing health added a layer of complexity to the task at hand. His deep admiration and concern for the great poet did not ease Mendelssohn's efforts to set the ballad to music. By 1831, however, Mendelssohn was far from inexperienced. "The "First Walpurgis Night" featured the interplay of light and shadow reminiscent of the Scottish Symphony and resonated with the exuberance of life found in the Italian Symphony. The composition was distinguished by its vivid narrative, dramatic choral writing, and orchestral richness.
Even today, people in northern and eastern Europe continue the tradition of driving out witches and demons on the evening of April 30 with bonfires, gunshots, and the cracking of whips. Officially, these celebrations coincide with the eve of the feast of St. Walpurgis, an 8th-century missionary revered for her compassion during Charlemagne's wars to conquer and convert much of what is now Germany. The Church may have chosen to honor her on this day to replace an older, pagan festival celebrating the arrival of spring. The traditions of Walpurgis Night are rooted in the belief that this is the most unholy night of the year, when witches are said to gather on mountaintops to engage in blasphemous orgies and worship Satan.
Goethe's ballad provided the impetus for Mendelssohn to create a magnificent depiction of the conflict between an ancient pagan community and the burgeoning efforts of Christianization, exploring the dynamics of faith and superstition on both fronts. The text, seamlessly integrated into the composition, echoes a religious conflict that recalls the era when pagan customs were suppressed and persecuted after the establishment of Christianity in Germany.
The story revolves around a group of Druids who seek refuge on the Brocken, a mountain associated with witches' gatherings, to secretly practice their ancient rites during the traditional spring festival of Walpurgis. Despite prohibition and the threat of persecution, the pagan spring festival is defiantly celebrated on the heights of the Harz Mountains. Dressed as devils, the pagans try to scare away the priests and Christians. Mendelssohn enjoyed composing this haunting episode. The persecutors are thwarted by their own superstitions as the pagans, protected by ghostly apparitions, carry out their pagan sacrificial rituals.
Felix Mendelssohn, one of history's greatest musical prodigies, was born into a wealthy and distinguished German-Jewish family that converted to Lutheranism during his childhood. As a young boy, Mendelssohn had the opportunity to meet Goethe several times, making a lasting impression on the esteemed poet. In fact, Goethe went so far as to declare Mendelssohn more gifted than the young Mozart, having seen both prodigies perform live during his long life. Mendelssohn's brilliance came not only from his technical skill, but also from his originality. With his Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream, he introduced a groundbreaking style of "fairy music" that revolutionized the representation of the supernatural in musical composition (you'll also find it in Walpurgisnacht).
After the terrible events of Nazism and the Holocaust, one might wonder if the persecuted heathens in Mendelssohn's "The First Walpurgis Night" represented the Jews facing rising anti-Semitism in the 19th century. Despite Mendelssohn's sincere Lutheran faith, he experienced anti-Semitism throughout his career. However, his contemporaries didn't interpret the piece as related to Judaism; they generally saw the heathens as proto-Protestant Germans. Mendelssohn's personal thoughts are unclear due to his limited writings on inner feelings and the ongoing scholarly debate about his relationship to Judaism. Nevertheless, as Goethe noted, "The First Walpurgis Night" is highly symbolic, echoing the plight of oppressed peoples throughout history. Beyond the playful imagery, Mendelssohn's provocative masterpiece encourages audiences to embrace tolerance and understand the perspectives of others.
"The First Walpurgis Night was not widely performed during Mendelssohn's lifetime, and he himself considered it one of his neglected works. In later years, however, it has gained recognition for its innovative use of orchestration and its contribution to the Romantic choral tradition.
German text
Listen to: hr-Sinfonieorchester (Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra) ∙
Sonja Leutwyler, Alt ∙ Maximilian Schmitt, Tenor ∙ Adrian Eröd, Bariton ∙ Markus Volpert, Bass ∙ MDR Rundfunkchor ∙ Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Dirigent