Guglielmo Tell (William Tell)is an opera in four acts by Gioachino Rossini to a French libretto by Étienne de Jouy and Hippolyte Bis. It was based on Friedrich Schiller's play William Tell, which drew on the William Tell legend. This opera was Rossini's last, even though the composer lived for nearly forty more years. The overture, with its famous finale, "March Of The Swiss Soldiers," is a major part of the concert and recording repertoire.
While it was first performed by the Paris Opéra at the Salle Le Peletier on 3 August 1829, the opera's length, roughly four hours of music, and casting requirements, such as the high range required for the tenor part, have contributed to the difficulty of producing the work.[1] When it is performed, it is often heavily cut. Performances have been given in both French and Italian. Political concerns have also contributed to the varying fortunes of the work. This 1985 recording stars Chris Meritt and Cheryl Studer. Ricardo Muti conducts this live recording.
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