Opera "William Tell" by Gioacchino Rossini

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Pushkin himself admired the sincerely lyrical, captivating melodies of the Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini. He became the author of the famous "The Barber of Seville", "Cinderella", "Italian in Algeria". And he also wrote the heroic-patriotic opera "William Tell", in which there is a lot of pathos of the liberation struggle. The plot of this work tells about the legendary Swiss patriot of the XIV century. G. Rossini's opera "William Tell" deserves your attention. This is the composer's longest opera and his last creation. Get acquainted with the history of its creation, a brief summary of the actions, features of the music.

The history of the creation of the opera "William Tell"

Gioacchino Rossini's great creation was based on the drama of the great German poet F. Schiller. The composer also studiedother heroic-revolutionary operas on the same theme. The master worked on his creation for about six months. The result is an opera in 4 acts. This is Rossini's longest work. August 3, 1929 in Paris, the Royal Academy of Music presented the premiere of the opera "William Tell". The author was not very pleased with the result, because the six-hour performance seemed too tiring to him. The audience was delighted with the opera, because the theme was very relevant. And the composer lost interest in writing and turned only to sacred music. Critics were very positive about the opera "William Tell".

The work turned out to be so huge that often only one of its parts was used for theatrical productions in Paris. The work was highly appreciated by Richard Wagner. He called the highest example of the creation of melodies "William Tell". In it, he saw a combination of free singing, emphasis on every word, quivering cello accompaniment, the highest expression.

The grandeur of the Rossini Overture

In music such as opera, there is always an overture first. This is a kind of instrumental orchestral piece as an introduction. The overture to the opera "William Tell" by Rossini was an excellent beginning, an introduction, the opening of a great masterpiece. It became the most famous orchestral music used even today in orchestral concerts. Notes of the overture to the opera "William Tell" Rossini wish to have in their piggy bankmany musicians. With his original introduction, Rossini put an end to the classical style of the piece of music. He laid the foundation for a romantic overture, followed by 4 parts that resembled a mini-symphony.

The remarkable introduction to this opera can compete only with Mascagni's intermezzo in "Country Life". The audience always enthusiastically perceives it. The creators of one of the Disney cartoons took advantage of this feeling and used the melody of the overture for the musical accompaniment. At first, the solo of the cellists sounds, then the timpani paints a picture of the storm, then the piccollo flute betrays the raindrops. The Swiss melody is played by an Alpine horn, followed by a French horn, followed by a fanfare followed by a gallop.

Meet the characters

In the opera "William Tell" we meet with the following parties:

• Wilhelm Tell (baritone);
• Hedwig, his wife (conr alto);
• Arnold Melchtal (tenor);
• W alter Furst (bass);
• father Arnold Melchtal (bass);
• Tell's son, Jemmy (mezzo-soprano);
• Gesler, the Austrian governor (bass);
• fisherman Rhodey (tenor);
• shepherd Leuthold;
• guard captain Rodolphe (tenor);
• hunter (tenor).

We also meet Gesler's soldiers, pages, ladies from Matilda's entourage, shepherds, dancers, hunters, Swiss peasants.

Events I actions

Mainthe protagonist is William Tell, the legendary Swiss patriot of the 14th century. The country was then held under the yoke by the Austrian governor Gesler, who showed special tyranny. Following an ancient custom, the Swiss are preparing to welcome the Spring Festival. Couples entering into a marriage union are blessed on it. The famous shooter Tell appears in the crowd of jubilant people. He is visited by thoughts about his homeland, which has been enslaved by foreign conquerors for a hundred years. The elder of the shepherds Melchtal blesses the young, only his son, Arnold, stands aside sad. He passionately loves the Austrian princess Mathilde. She forced him to take the side of the enemies of his native land.

Suddenly horns sound. This is Gesler approaching with his detachment. Arnold rushes to meet them in the hope of seeing Matilda. Tell calls not to do this, but to defend his homeland. The shepherd Leithold appears, pursued by Gesler's soldiers, because he killed one soldier for an attempt on his daughter's honor. To escape, he needs to swim to the other side. The fugitive does not find help from the fisherman, because he is afraid of waterfalls and dangerous rapids. But Tell sits with the shepherd in a boat and transports him. The fugitives are chased, but they escape. The soldiers round up the whole people and, threatening with death, demand to name the escape assistant. Old Melchtal comes out and refuses the enemies from the whole village. The soldiers seize the old man, execute him, and begin to rob and set fire to the houses. After such a heavy massacre, real anger wakes up among the people.

II action: brief description

Matilda, the daughter oftyrant Gesler. She was left alone in the dark forest, waiting for Arnold and singing. She confesses her tender feelings to him and asks him to leave his homeland for the purpose of military exploits. The girl swears allegiance to him. Tell and W alter Furst appear. The Swiss remind Arnold of his duty to his native land. A man is tormented by love for Matilda. Then he learns about the tragic massacre by foreigners over his father. This causes a thirst for revenge in the soul. All three Swiss unite and promise to fight for the freedom of their country. At night they gather people and swear allegiance to freedom. Everyone is waiting for the signal fire to start the uprising.

Summary of Act III

Arnold meets Matilda in the chapel. They say goodbye because the man must avenge his father's death. It's getting light, the soldiers are waking up in Gesler's military camp. Everyone is being herded to the fairgrounds to celebrate the centenary of Austrian power. Gesler arranges a holiday. On the pole they raise the helmet of the governor, to whom all the passing inhabitants of the village had to bow. Frightened people follow the order, only the brave Tell refuses to do so. Gesler figured out how to persuade the daredevil. He ordered the capture of his son, Jemmy. An apple was placed on the young man's head, and Tell had to pierce it with a bow. Gesler sets the condition that if he hits the apple, he will release both, and if he misses, he will execute them. Little Jamie behaves calmly and confidently. This behavior of his son gave Tell confidence. He shoots accurately and knocks down an apple. The people rejoice with delight, but Tell from tensionloses consciousness. Another arrow falls out of his hands, which he saved for Gesler. By order of the governor, Tell was arrested. He was imprisoned for the rest of his life. The son of Jemmy was saved by Matilda, who snatched him from the hands of the soldiers. Tell manages to send a message to his wife, in which he talks about when to start the uprising of the cantons.

IV action

Arnold comes to his father's hut, where everything reminds him of his childhood. The thought of liberation from the dungeon of Tell does not leave the man. He calls on fellow villagers to fight the enslavers with weapons in their hands. Matilda comes to the village with little Jemmy. The son runs up to his heartbroken mother. Matilda's love for Arnold makes Matilda take the side of the Swiss. She declares herself a hostage in order to save Tell's life. Gesler ordered Wilhelm to be taken by boat to a prison on a small island. People learn that the boat with Tell will sail near the village.

To signal the start of the uprising, Jamie sets fire to his father's house. The Swiss with weapons come running to the shore, praying for the rescue of the boat with Wilhelm, who has fallen into a storm. Tell was an experienced helmsman, so he managed to direct the boat to the shore. He jumps out of the boat onto a rock and runs away from his pursuers. Gesler's persecution was in vain. Jemmy brings his father a bow and arrow, and he kills Gesler. Enemy soldiers run away from the rebellious people. The rebels take control of the fortified castles of the Austrians. The Patriots are led by young Arnold. All Swiss have fun and enjoy the long-awaited freedom. Matilda from the camp of the enemy went over to the rebels and agrees to marry Arnold.

Arias of Tell and Matilda

William Tell is the most famous aria. With his cry of the soul, he calls on his son Jemmy to endure all the trials. This is followed by the crying of the cello. Wilhelm's aria makes the opera amazing. Confident singing not only captivates the audience, but also inspires other actors.

Matilda's aria seems domineering and at the same time melodic. It clearly reveals the inner state of the heroine. A smooth melody gives way to an insistent, agitated rhythm. There is a sense of anxiety and undercurrent of suffering.

Features of music at the beginning of the action

In the heroic-patriotic opera "William Tell" one can feel the pathos of the liberation struggle. The heroic overture conveys the purity and nobility of people from the people. The main place in the opera is given to mass choral scenes. The Italian composer, author of the opera "William Tell" was able to convey picturesque nature, majestic processions, love scenes with music. Ballet scenes are also included. Rossini was able to include melodies from Swiss and Tyrolean national folklore. Pastoral-idyllic images are replaced by heroic ones. The march from the opera "William Tell" is especially striking.

Rejoicing at the end of the opera

Four cellos solo in the overture. The symphonic picture of the storm is replaced by a radiant victorious march. The first act is characterized by monumental choral scenes. The drama escalates at the end. In the second actforest romance is felt, hunting horns sound. The lyrical romance of Matilda sounds. A special place in the music is given to Tell's courageous grief, Jemmy's touching entreaties, Gesler's cruelty. In the last act, anxiety and excitement are felt. The melody is intertwined with Italian liberation songs. The dramatic culmination of the opera is conveyed by the orchestral picture of the storm. In the finale, one feels boundless jubilation in honor of freedom and justice.

Rossini's opera "Wilhelm Tell" on world stages

This masterpiece is considered the pinnacle of Rossini's work. In it, he was able to reveal all his talent. Despite the technical difficulties of staging the opera and its size, many theaters around the world have included it or individual parts in their repertoire. The libretto was translated from French into Italian. In 1838, the work was staged in Russia only under the censored title "Karl the Bold". Many famous performers shone in the arias of Rossini's opera: Battistini, Zancanaro, Milnes, Gobbi, Montserrat Caballe. During World War II, the Bolshoi Theater staged a production of William Tell.