Rossini - Guglielmo Tell (William Tell) / Milnes, Pavarotti, Freni, Ghiaurov, D. Jones, E. Connell, van Allan, NPO, Chailly

Gioachino Rossini (Artist), Riccardo Chailly (Artist), Luciano Pavarotti (Artist), Mirella Freni (Artist), Sherrill Milnes (Artist), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Artist), Della Jones (Artist), Elizabeth Connell (Artist), Richard van Allan (Artist), National Philharmonic Orchestra (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 4
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000041RE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,849 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #38 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Freni, Mirella

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Lively Tell for Those Who Have Other Recordings of it:, April 24, 2002

By 

Jeffrey Harris "Jeff Harris" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rossini - Guglielmo Tell (William Tell) / Milnes, Pavarotti, Freni, Ghiaurov, D. Jones, E. Connell, van Allan, NPO, Chailly (Audio CD)

William Tell is Rossini's last opera, and this Romantic heroic interpretation of Schiller's epic of Wilhelm Tell among his best works. Rossini composed this opera in Paris. The original libretto was written in French, for a French audience, chorus. Parisians by reputation had more refined musical technique and tastes than their Italian counterparts and Rossini applied the best of Italian opera technique, which he had mastered and more refined and complex French musical staging which he studied and adapted during his years in Paris.

One problem with this interpretation is that the text is in Italian, not in French. The crisp staccato sounds of Italian don't match the music as well as the smoother sounds of French do. The bond between language and music seems especially significant for Rossini's opera because he wrote his score to fit with words, leaving little room anywhere for improvisation by the singers or added or subtracted sounds or syllables by translators.

Riccardo Chailly's interpretation of this music is fresh and lively, if inconsistent in places. It's a pleasure to listen to this if you want a fresh take on Rossini. The star studded cast, not all in their prime, follow the conductors lead with honest, innovative performances and adept singing. If you want a stronger, perhaps more authentic grasp of the music and the story in Italian, Philips issued a recording of Riccardo Muti conducting a first rate ensemble performance in Italian at la Scala.

If don't already have Guillaume Tell in French, its original language, and want a more definitive version before trying the more experimental, please consider EMI Classics' edition conducted by Lamberto Gardelli also with a first rate ensemble cast.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A monumental performance of Rossini's final Masterpiece!, May 3, 2000

By 

Rod Tierman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rossini - Guglielmo Tell (William Tell) / Milnes, Pavarotti, Freni, Ghiaurov, D. Jones, E. Connell, van Allan, NPO, Chailly (Audio CD)

All four of the principals are marvelous in this, Rossini's final opera. Milnes is a very convincing Tell in this performance and is in magnificent voice (even interpolating a stupendous High A in his aria "Resta Immobile"), turning in a heartfelt performance indeed. Pavarotti was still riding the crest of his glorious prime when this recording was made and could still be justifiably dubbed "King of the High C's". His Arnoldo is both beautifully and excitingly sung. "O Muto Asil" and "Corriam, Vorriam" will literally have the listener riveted. The High C's and C sharps Pavarotti pulls off here are absolutely breathtaking. One can easily understand why he dubbed this his finest studio recorded performance and what all the fuss was about concerning this great Tenor. Mirella Freni is a very beautifully sung youthful sounding Mathilde. Ghiaurov's Kessler is appropriately evil sounding and the great Bulgarian Bass is in excellent voice here, but I do agree with a previous reviewer who stated that it sounds as if they recorded Ghiaurov in another room. Chailly's conducting on this recording is simply put, flawless. The sound on the recording is wonderful. This is definitely THE recording to own if one wants to hear what REAL vocal pyro-techniques are all about. This is the finest recording of Guigliemo Tell this reviewer has ever had the priveledge to hear. This performance should be an absolute MUST for every operaphile's collection. BUY THIS RECORDING! You will definitely be ecstatic that you did.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bullseye, December 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Rossini - Guglielmo Tell (William Tell) / Milnes, Pavarotti, Freni, Ghiaurov, D. Jones, E. Connell, van Allan, NPO, Chailly (Audio CD)

As soon as I first heard this recording it became one of my favorites. Wonderful performances all around. We can discuss Italian vs. French, conducting, who recorded what better - but - there is something to be said for just plain glorious singing of a truly remarkable score. The 2nd act alone is worth the price of admission. Soprano aria to soprano/tenor duet to male trio and male finale, all stupendous and a great ride. I was at a concert some years ago at which the overture was played. Imagine my surprise when the conductor (a famous one who will remain anonymous here) announced from the podium that the overture deserves it's popularity, but the rest of the opera was boring. Had he ever heard it? If you like exciting music that sweeps you along you can't do much better than this.