Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868)
Duration: 12 min
From the calm of the cellos to the final gallop, Rossini distills a true wordless theatre into this overture.
Written for William Tell, premiered in Paris in 1829, this overture unfolds in sharply defined contrasts: an intimate opening, the storm, then a pastoral scene in which the English horn sings its melody. With no set or characters onstage, the orchestra alone is enough to change the scenery and the weather.
Listen to how the colors transform almost without a break. The low strings set the hush, the woodwinds brighten the space, then the brass and rhythms launch the gallop. These four episodes form a progression that is easy to follow, even on a first listen.
Premiered on 3 August 1829, William Tell was Rossini’s final opera. Berlioz heard its overture as a true symphony in four parts — a useful way to understand its unusual structure.
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