Rossini’s “Guillaume Tell” (1829) is an early example of romantic French Grand Opera and with its lavish musical writing and patriotic themes, the work itself set new musical and dramaturgical standards anticipating the music of Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi and even Wagner. At the renowned Rossini Festival in Pesaro, it is presented in its original French version, and includes, besides many great choruses, the beautiful, but often omitted ballet music. Director Graham Vick's impressive staging of Rossini's last opera interprets the William Tell story – that dates back to Switzerland in 1307 – as a class conflict, and the story of the Swiss hero becomes the drama of a community's resistance against political, economic and military power. It is a timeless tale on class struggles captured in unforgettable images, such as the gigantic staircase that descends from the ceiling that will show Tell’s son the way to a free future. Tenor Juan Diego Flórez is “in a class of his own” in the role of Arnold mastering the part with "effortless perfection" (Deutschland radio).

Composer: Gioachino Rossini
Conductor: Michele Mariotti
Venue: Rossini Opera Festival
Orchestra: Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna
Cast/Soloist: Nicola Alaimo, Marina Rebeka, Juan Diego Flórez, Amanda Forsythe
Genre: Opera