Guillaume Tell

Pierre Audi’s new production of Guillaume Tell marked the first appearance of Rossini’s final operatic masterpiece on the Met stage for nearly 85 years. Composed for the Paris Opera in 1829 and based on a play by Schiller, Guillaume Tell uses thrilling vocals, grand ballets, and magnificent choruses to tell the story of Swiss patriots throwing off the yoke of Austrian oppression. Baritone Gerald Finley sings the title role, lending great dignity to his character with his commanding yet beautiful singing. As the heroic youth Arnold, tenor Bryan Hymel excites with one blazing high note after another, opposite the spellbinding soprano Marina Rebeka as the conflicted Hapsburg princess Mathilde. John Relyea is the malevolent Austrian governor Gesler, and Janai Brugger shines as Tell’s spirited son Jemmy. Fabio Luisi conducts a lively account of Rossini’s score, beginning with its famously explosive overture.