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 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, 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.

Overture

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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 with low-pitch instruments such as cello and bass
• Storm - dynamic section played by full orchestra
• Ranz des vaches (call to the dairy cows) - featuring the English horn
• Finale - ultra-dynamic "cavalry charge" heralded by trumpets and played by full orchestra

Many cell phones have William Tell Overture as a ringtone.

Characters

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• Principal roles
  • Guillame Tell - Baritone
  • Arnold - Tenor
  • Mathilde - Soprano
• Minor roles
  • Ruodi - Tenor
  • Hedwige - Mezzo-soprano
  • Jemmy - Soprano
  • Melcthal - Bass
  • Leuthold - Bass
  • Rudolf - Tenor
  • Walter Fürst - Bass
  • Gesler - Bass
• Other
  • Hunter - Baritone
  • Peasants, shepherds, knights, pages, ladies, soldiers - Chorus

Setting

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Time: The early 14th century.

Place: Switzerland.

Noted arias

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• "Asile héréditaire" (Arnold)
• "Sois immobile" (Tell)
• "Sombre forêt" (Mathilde)

Operas by Gioacchino Rossini | French-language operas | Grand operas

Guillaume Tell | Guillermo Tell (ópera) | Guillaume Tell (Rossini) | Guglielmo Tell (opera)