English - Guillaume Tell (Synopsis)

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9.11.2010

Guillaume Tell

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opernhaus zürich Spielzeit 2010/11

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GUILLAUME TELL Gioachino Rossini

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Act One In festivemood, the inhabitants of Bürglen are preparing for their traditional shepherd’s festival.

While the young Ruodi strikes up a love song, William Tell is unable to share the insouciance of his compatriots. The occupation of Switzerland by their Habsburg oppressors weighs heavily on his mind. Even the impending festival, during which, according to ancient custom, three couples are to be married, must be kept secret from the foreign rulers – especially the governor, Gessler.

Tell’s wife Hedwige and their daughter Jenni distract Tell from his troubles. The elderly Melchthal is elected to bless the couples and takes this as an opportunity to reproach his son Arnold for not yet having made up his mind to enter into the bond of marriage. Arnold, however, is consumed with love for Mathilde, a princess whose life he saved when he was a soldier in the Habsburgs’ service. Besides the class distinction, the fact that Mathilde is in Gessler’s retinue renders a liaison with her impossible. Tell, who fears that Arnold might again be disloyal, reminds him of his obligations towards his fatherland. Arnold promises him to fight on Switzerland’s side if there is a rebellion, butwhen a horn in the distance signals the arrival ofGessler and his huntsmen, he hurries off in order to see Mathilde again.

At that moment, the shepherd Leuthold appears with a bloody axe in his hand. To defend his daughter’s honour he has killed a Habsburg soldier. Now Gessler’s men, led by Rudolf, are on his heels. Only by escaping to the opposite shore will he be in safety. Tell is the only man prepared to risk the dangerous crossing – just in time, before Rudolf arrives with his soldiers and demands vengeance for his dead comrade. In spite of his threats, the elderly Melchthal demands that his intimidated compatriots should not betray the name of the man who helped Leuthold to escape. When Hedwige and Jenni, who have observed Tell’s and Leuthold’s crossing from the shore, return and announce that both are in safety, the fury of the Habsburg soldiers knows no bounds. They plunder and pillage whatever they can lay their hands on;Melchthal has to pay for his resistance with his life.

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Act Two Gessler’s retinue has passed the time hunting. At dusk the hunting party returns home, but Mathilde stays behind. She longs for Arnold; she can no longer deny that she loves him. When he appears unexpectedly and apologises for his intrusiveness, she encourages him to approach her. At last they declare their mutual love and make plans together. Arnold is to re-enter Habsburg service the very next day and acquire glory on the field of honour in order to prove himself worthy of Mathilde. Their rendezvous is disturbed by the appearance of Tell, who is accompanied byWalter Fürst.Mathilde hurriedly withdraws, while Tell and Fürst accost Arnold. When the latter attempts to defend himself, they confront him with the violent death of his father. Utterly devastated, Arnold now thinks only of revenge. The delegations of the Swiss cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden summoned by Tell arrive in succession. Together they swear to fight for liberation from Habsburg tyranny.

Act Three Mathilde, who has come to bid Arnold a tender farewell, is dismayed to learn that her own people bear the blame for the death of his father,whomhe is determined to avenge. Mathilde shares his sorrow and understands that their love no longer has any future.

Gessler has ordered that a feast be given at which homage should be paid to him as a representative of the Habsburgs. His soldiers force the Swiss populace to bow before a monument erected especially for the purpose. Tell, who arrives with Jenni, refuses to obey the order. Furious, Gessler orders him to shoot an apple from his daughter’s head as a punishment; otherwise he will kill both of them. Tell’s courage fails him, but Jenni’s bravery and faith in his ability enable himto risk the shot. Although it is accurate, Gessler condemns Tell and Jenni to death. Mathilde, who is witness to the scene, rebels against Gessler and places Jenni under her protection. Tell remains in Gessler’s power.

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Act Four Tell’s arrest forces Arnold to assume leadership of the campaign against Gessler himself. He fuels his vengeance with memories of the happy past with his father, whom Gessler has taken from him for ever. Hedwige is also determined to visit Gessler, even in danger of death, for a life without her husband and daughter seems senseless to her. Her gloomy thoughts are interrupted

by Jenni’s voice.Overcomewith joy, she embraces her daughter, brought back byMathilde, who offers herself as a hostage for Tell. Jenni reports that Tell is to be taken across the lake to Küssnacht. Faced with a rising storm, Hedwige sends a prayer to heaven, while Jenni hurries off to light the signal pyres – as ordered by her father. Leuthold arrives with the news that Tell has been able to escape and is on his way home. Shortly afterwards, Hedwige and Jenni can hold Tell in their arms, andMathilde and Arnold also find each other. When Gessler, who has pursued Tell, again threatens to kill him, Tell shoots him with his crossbow.

The sky clears; the Swiss are united in prayer.

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