WILLIAM TELL

(Guillaume Tell) Composer: GIOACCHINO ROSSINI Book by ETRENNE DE Jovy and Hrepotyrte Bis, from Schiller’s play First performance: Opéra, Paris, August 3, 1829 4 acts. NEAR LAKE LUCERNE in the fourteenth century the Swi hate their Governor, Ge ler, for his killing of Melchtal because Leuthold had killed one of Ge ler’s men for insulting Leuthold’s daughter. Ge ler’s son, Arnold, joins William Tell and Leuthold, whom Tell has helped to escape. Arnold loves Mathilde, an Austrian Prince , who may someday rule him and his people. Tell organises the Swi against Ge ler a man who has forced indignities on the people which Tell won’t stand. Tell’s punishment is to shoot an apple off his son’s head which he does. When a second arrow falls out of his shirt Tell boldly tells Ge ler it was for the Governor’s heart if he (Tell) had hit the child. Tell and son are imprisoned but Tell escapes over a wild sea, and kills Ge ler. Arnold and Mathilde are united.