Rossini chose the story of Guillaume Tell not just for its 'Swissness' but to represent the liberation of an oppressed people, similar to themes in his earlier operas.
Interpretation
The critical edition, used for this recording, incorporates all numbers as supplements, restoring pieces that were cut from earlier performing versions of the opera.
Composition History
Rossini used the anticipation for his Guillaume Tell score to negotiate a highly advantageous contract with the French government, even rejecting one signed by the king.
Composition History
The creation of Guillaume Tell took almost 18 months, an unusually long time for Rossini, due to the complex production system of the Paris Opéra.
Recording & Production
The recording was made live at the Trinkhalle, Bad Wildbad, Germany, in July 2013, as part of the XXV ROSSINI IN WILDBAD Festival.
Recording & Production
This recording is the first of the complete opera, including numbers and passages that were cut from the premiere and subsequent performances.
Composer Biography
Rossini's 'mysterious silence' after Guillaume Tell was not due to critical reception or creative limitations, but a legal dispute with the French government over his pension.
