• Year of composition: 1896 (according to Sohlmans musiklexikon [a Swedish dictionary of music and musicians], vol. 3, 1976)
  In the end of the autograph to the score it says 'Visby and Yxelö 1894-1895'
• Work category: Opera
• Text author: Frans Hedberg (1828-1908). Free adaptation after Hans Hopfen's 'Hexenfang'
• First performed: 16 March 1896, Svenska Teatern [The Swedish Theatre], Stockholm. Performers: A. Ödmann (Albertus), C. A. Söderman (Kobus), G. Sparrman (Maria), P. Frödin, Lindberg by marriage, and Lizell (Teresia), M. Linden, née Jungstedt (Rebecka)
• Duration: Approx. 60-90 min
• Detailed duration: Act I 54', Act II 30' (according to note in the vn I's part material)

Instrumentation

3*.2*.2.2 / 4.2.3.1 / timp, perc, hp, org / str
(picc [only in Act II], cor angl [only in Act I], bass tbn [the first page of the score simultaneously says '4 Tromboni' and '2 Ten, 1 Bass, 1 Tuba'])
… Read moreperc: bass dr, cymb, trgl, sn dr, glsp, bells, (tam [only written in pencil in the part material]) Collapse

Solo voices/choir

Albertus, en vis mästare [a wise meister (master)] (tenor)
Kobus, hans famulus (professorsassistent) [his assistant] (bass baritone)
Maria, en borgarflicka [a burgher’s daughter] (soprano)
Teresia, … Read moreen nunna [a nun] (soprano)
Rebecka, rik borgarfru [a wealthy burgher’s wife] (mezzo-soprano)

Female choir (Hexor, Kvinnor [Witches, Women]): S.A., Male choir (Prester, Munkar [Priests, Monks]): T.B., Mixed choir (Munkar och nunnor, Män och kvinnor af folket [Munks and nuns, Common men and women]): S.A.T.B., S.S.A.A.T.T.B.B.

2 sopranos (Maria, Teresia), 1 mezzo-soprano (Rebecka), 1 tenor (Albertus), 1 bass-baritone (Kobus) Collapse

Examples of printed editions

Libretto: Gustaf Chelius, Stockholm (1895)

Location for score and part material

Handwritten orchestral parts at Musik- och teaterbiblioteket.

• Location autograph: Musik- och teaterbiblioteket
• Possible call no. and autograph comment: Operor [Operas], H 6 [Film 113:2] (score)
  T-klav Sv. II:1. -'Ä' (undated piano reduction under the title 'Walpurgisnacht', text and stage directions in German)

Description of work

A free German imperial city in the Middle Ages

Act I

Introduction: Adagio ma non troppo C minor varying time signatures
Curtain.

Albertus's library and laboratory, both in old German style.

… Read moreScene 1: Albertus, Kobus
Scene 2: Maria, The above
Scene 3: Albertus, Kobus
Scene 4: Albertus
Scene 5: Albertus, Teresia, Rebecka, Häxor [Witches]
Curtain.


Act II

[Introduction]: Allegro D minor alla breve
Curtain.

Maria’s chamber.

Scene 1: Maria

Change of scenery. Interlude [instrumental]: Andante (Moderato struck through in the score) G-dur alla breve (varying time signatures)
The scenery shows the one half of Albertus’s house and study.

Scene 2: Albertus, Kobus, People
Scene 4: Dawn. Maria sprinkle the room with holy water. Sunrise. Church bells are ringing. The church doors open. The monks exit and encounter a procession of priests, burghers, and soldiers, singing the Easter hymn. Albertus takes Maria’s hand. They walk hand-in-hand towards the church, followed by Kobus. The crowd joins in the hymn. Maria, Albertus, Kobus, Munkar, Präster, Borgare, Soldater, Folk [Maria, Albertus, Kobus, Monks, Priests, Burghers, Soldiers, A crowd]
Curtain.

[For the complete storyline (in Swedish), see the Swedish page of the same work.] Collapse

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Work comment

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Libretto/text