Amazon.com: In its first video recording, the unfamiliar opera that follows the ultra-familiar overture is presented uncut--four hours of music, which seem shorter thanks to powerful conducting, virtuoso singing, and imaginative staging that often suggests more than it actually shows. Instead of scenery, a sense of time and place is evoked by projections of Swiss scenes on three large screens, and well-used props and costumes (of Rossini's era, not the Middle Ages where the action is usually set). The music is uneven but always effective and often splendid. The solo singers are good--particularly Chris Merritt in a very challenging role--and the orchestra and chorus are superb. --Joe McLellan
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Great singing but dreadful production.
This DVD is widely available at a very cheap price, and I thoroughly recommend it to fans of Rossini. The production, however, is virtually a costumed concert performance, with the chorus on stands at ... Read More
Rating: - Very good and now available in less expensive edition
This classic opera is now available in a DVD that costs about $20--an excellent buy for a complete and exciting performance of this important work. It is listed under Guglielmo Tell
Rating: - Released under a differnt lable in the UK
If you are a serious Rossini fan, then this UNcut Gugliemo Tell broadcast is a must have. Although this DVD has been out of print for at least a year... and very hard to find... (and yet not worth the ... Read More
Rating: - Stunning production, superbly conducted
This video is a wonderful document of a beautifully conceived production of this monumental opera. The use of enormous screens to project scenes from the mountains of Switzerland is superbly handled, frequently ... Read More
Rating: - At Last! An Uncut William Tell!
Finally, to be able to see a full-length production of Rossini's final opera is a must for any full-fledged operaphile. The principals are equally wonderful and sing with a true dedication to the work. The production ... Read More
- Great singing but dreadful production.
- Very good and now available in less expensive edition
- Released under a differnt lable in the UK