William Tell (opera)
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Guillaume Tell (William Tell) is an opera in four acts by Gioacchino Rossini to a French libretto by Etienne de Jouy and Hippolyte Bis, based on Friedrich Schiller's play Wilhelm Tell. It was first performed at the Paris Opéra on August 3, 1829.
It has been performed in Italian under the title Guglielmo Tell. However, today the opera is rarely performed in any language, mostly due to its length (performances of it can last as long as six hours), and it is known mostly for its overture.
William Tell was Rossini's final opera even though the composer lived happily between France and Italy for nearly another 40 years afterwards. There are several recordings of it, but its length (roughly six hours) and casting requirements (the tenor role contains 28 high Cs) contribute to the difficulty in producing the opera. When it is performed, it is often heavily cut.
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[edit] Overture
- See William Tell Overture for the versions by Spike Jones and other popular culture references
The opera's overture, especially its high-energy finale, is a very familiar work, written in four parts, each segueing into the next:
- Prelude - a slow passage starting with a passage for five cellos
- Storm - a dynamic section played by full orchestra
- Ranz des vaches (call to the dairy cows) - featuring the Cor anglais (English horn)
- Finale - ultra-dynamic "cavalry charge" galop heralded by trumpets and played by full orchestra. This became famous in 1940s through 1960s as the theme song for the popular radio and television cowboy show, The Lone Ranger.
Caution: experienced can play
[edit] Characters
- Principal roles
- Minor roles
- Other
[edit] Setting
- Time: The early 14th century.
- Place: Switzerland.
[edit] Noted arias
- "Asile héréditaire" (Arnold)
- "Sois immobile" (Tell)
- "Sombre forêt" (Mathilde)
