ROH 'William Tell'

[Giacomo]

I hope you will understand how I feel if I take great offence at your tasteless attempt at humour here.

I apologise sincerely, I have removed the offending word and offer you a full refund. It was not intended as humour, perhaps to show prudishness was not the issue on my part, but it was supposed to reflect some of the feeling of being offended back, which it did, rejoice that you didn't pay £190 for it.

I promise to not criticise the forthcoming Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci (principally because I promise not to go). Further I promise not to continue here as we are getting nowhere. People - some, lots - didn't like it, do we even need to know why? Not really, just let the fact stand. Was the purpose of the production upset and alienate (a large part of) the paying audience and to overshadow the music? If so it was a success. You liked it? Good for you.

[underthecountertenor]

I haven't seen it yet, but I will next week (possibly twice, depending on how I feel), and am going with an open mind (insofar as that is now possible) and in the hope (as always) that I will be culturally nourished and entertained.

[MrGongGong]

the fact the scene was gratuitous and still is even in modified form, it not being in the libretto, it was completely worthy of booing. .

That's an opinion NOT a fact
How about your opinion about how far one can 'modify' an artwork without it loosing its integrity as a work?

[Flosshilde]

Just a thought - a certain class of opera goer in 19th century Paris expected a ballet in the 3rd or 4th act - not for any artistic purpose, but to provide an opportunity for them to ogle the dancers, & woe betide any composer who neglected to do so. Rossini, in writing 'pretty' music but directing that the dance should be the Austrian officers forcing the Swiss women to dance, was perhaps providing a critical commentary on that practice - which could be interpreted as a visual & mental rape of the dancers. The current ROH production could be seen as a modern equivalent of that commentary.

[aeolium]

Rossini, in writing 'pretty' music but directing that the dance should be the Austrian officers forcing the Swiss women to dance, was perhaps providing a critical commentary on that practice - which could be interpreted as a visual & mental rape of the dancers. The current ROH production could be seen as a modern equivalent of that commentary.

But Rossini wrote ballet music in several of his operas, and indeed another ballet scene in Guillaume Tell in which a betrothal was celebrated.

As I commented earlier, the Pountney WNO solution to have the dancers suggest the violence and oppression in contrast to the music, rather than having the message visually rammed home, so to speak, seems to me a good one. It is better sometimes to involve the imagination of the audience.

[Stanfordian]

Just a thought - a certain class of opera goer in 19th century Paris expected a ballet in the 3rd or 4th act - not for any artistic purpose, but to provide an opportunity for them to ogle the dancers, & woe betide any composer who neglected to do so. Rossini, in writing 'pretty' music but directing that the dance should be the Austrian officers forcing the Swiss women to dance, was perhaps providing a critical commentary on that practice - which could be interpreted as a visual & mental rape of the dancers. The current ROH production could be seen as a modern equivalent of that commentary.

At that time William Tell, regarded as French Grand Opera, was expected to be of a grand scale, an historical context, a ballet, chorus to provide the crowd scenes of battles or processions, a mad scene, a drinking song etc.

[Flosshilde]

Composers were more or less obliged to introduce a ballet sequence in order that members of the Jockey Club - mainly young aristocrats - could see the dancers. Failure to do so could lead to rowdy scenes in the opera house & possibly the failure of the opera, and indeed the composer's ambitions in Paris. Obviously they dressed it up to give it some sort of dramatic credibility. Rossini's act 3 ballet was probably more dramatically credible than most, demonstrating the Austrian's oppression of the Swiss. The present production made that more emphatic, & avoided the usual troop of people (the dancers) coming on who haven't formed part of the action up to then.

The first act ballet was also entirely credible, established the relationship between father & son, & related to the comments of the other people about an archery contest & 'young Tell's' prowess (although that does suggest that the other contestants must have been pretty crap )

[jean]

William himself was pretty good though, wasn't he?

[Flosshilde]

Absolutely. "Young Tell" would refer to his son, though?

[jean]

Of course. That's why I said 'though', to contrast the elder Tell's prowess with his son's lack of it.

[Flosshilde]

Sorry - I misunderstood the role of the 'though' Yes, Tell the elder was pretty good, which presumably was why he was geting so frustrated with Tell the younger's ineptness (perhaps the chorus' comment on 'young Tell's skill' was ironic )

[Don Basilio]

Saw it tonight. Production good in bits. Musically wonderful.

[David-G]

I went last night. I love "Guillaume Tell" deeply, and have been waiting years to see it at Covent Garden, but to say that this was a disappointment would be an understatement. I found it monotonous, dramatically inept, infantile, and deeply boring. A mood of depression settled on me which made me unable to enjoy or appreciate any of the superlative musical performance. I went home profoundly depressed and feeling that the whole evening had been a waste of everybody's time.
...
I feel annoyed and frustrated that the inanities of the production prevented me from enjoying the musical performance. I might try going again on Tuesday - but I shall have to take care that I see nothing. I think a blindfold will be required.

I went again this evening, but this time wore a blindfold. Transformation!! With my ears, and without using my eyes, I could now appreciate and enjoy the marvellous conducting and superb singing, and the towering glory of Rossini's music. I highly recommend anyone going to the final performance to do the same.

[Flosshilde]

I would recommend anyone going to open your eyes and your mind. Opera is more than music.

[Stanfordian]

I went again this evening, but this time wore a blindfold. Transformation!! With my ears, and without using my eyes, I could now appreciate and enjoy the marvellous conducting and superb singing, and the towering glory of Rossini's music. I highly recommend anyone going to the final performance to do the same.

Hiya David-G,

If you went along to the opera house or cinema and didn't watch you might as well have sat at home with Pappano's recording.