![]() ![]() ![]() Antonio Pappano keeps things moving beautifully in a poised, clear and energetic account of the score. The chorus while static too much of the time and not having much to properly bring depth and individuality are spine-shivering and bring tears to the eyes in their final chorus. The orchestra play rousingly and powerfully, with great style and poise. Starting with the good things (always try to look for good things in films/television programmes/cartoons/opera, musical and ballet productions that are not good), it is often excellent musically. The furious uproar and booing the production garnered is not surprising at all, not since Liceu's 'Don Giovanni' has such a reaction been justified (and this is not intended to sound snarky). Their production of 'Guillaume Tell' is a long way from being one of those, in fact it's a huge disappointment of a production that is better heard than seen. Royal Opera House have done many great to brilliant productions of opera and ballet in the past, and still do. Best production of the opera this reviewer has seen is one from 2003 with Thomas Hampson in the title role. However, on DVD it's very scant, and those available have interest but are heavily flawed. 'Guillaume Tell' (or 'Guglielmo Tell') is very well served on record, especially the Gabriel Bacquier and Sherrill Milnes recordings. The characters however are interesting and vividly drawn, there are some very memorable scenes and Rossini's music is truly fantastic especially the Overture (the most famous part and one of his most famous works) and Tell's "Sois Immobile" (or "Reste Immobile" in its Italian version, which is one of the most beautiful things Rossini ever wrote). It's not a perfect opera, it's somewhat sprawling and the first two acts drag depending on how they're performed. Rossini's final opera this reviewer considers to be one of his best operas, with 'Il Barbiere Di Siviglia' and 'La Cenerentola' also among his best.
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