The Sorcerer's Apprentice (French: L'Apprenti sorcier) is a symphonic poem by the French composer Paul Dukas, completed in 1897. Subtitled "Scherzo after a ballad by Goethe", the piece was based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's 1797 poem named "Der Zauberlehrling". By far the most performed and recorded of Dukas' works, its notable appearance in the Walt Disney 1940 animated film Fantasia has led to the piece becoming widely known to audiences outside the classical concert hall. The score was first published in 1897 by A. Durand & Fils. The premiere was given in Paris on May 18, 1897 by the Societe Nationale de Musique with the composer himself conducting.