back to New Releases Page
In Rome this past fall, Antonio Pappano and the choir and orchestra of the Accademia Nationale di Santa Cecilia launched the present season with complete performances of Rossini’s final French opera seria, William Tell. It is this rare and justly celebrated revival of Rossini’s opera – one scarcely known today, beyond the familiar climax of its overture – that EMI Classics captures live on a landmark new recording.
The many cinematic and television appearances of the famous theme from the overture, including A Clockwork Orange, The Lone Ranger and Bugs Bunny, make this one of the few works of its kind to be familiar to many, far beyond the opera-loving public. In addition to the overture, there are many other great moments to discover amongst the arias, finales, spectacular crowd scenes, chorus and dances.
Joining Pappano is the Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia under his musical directorship and a stellar international cast featuring by Canadian baritone Gerald Finley in the title role and American tenor John Osborn.
This beautiful 3-CD clamshell set is a new operatic offering that continues the partnership between Pappano/Santa Cecilia and EMI Classics, which began with the award-winning Puccini: Madama Butterfly recording in 2009 with Angela Gheorghiu in the title role and tenor Jonas Kaufmann. The release won the Gramophone Award for Best Opera Recording that year.
