Composed for the Paris Opera in 1829 and based on a play by Schiller, Guillaume Tell uses thrilling vocals, grand ballets, and magnificent choruses to tell the story of Swiss patriots throwing off the yoke of Austrian oppression. Baritone Brett Polegato sings the title role, lending great dignity to his character with his commanding yet beautiful singing. As the heroic youth Arnold, tenor Konu Kim excites with one blazing high note after another, opposite the spellbinding soprano Máire Flavin as the conflicted Hapsburg princess Mathilde. David Ireland is the malevolent Austrian governor, Gesler. Fergus Sheil conducts the Irish National Opera Chorus and Orchestra in this production from 2022.
RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 16th September, 7pm-10pm
