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William Tell, Millennium Centre, Cardiff/Touring
3/5
An apple shot from the head of the eponymopus protagonist’s son and the most rousing of overtures are just some of the familiar and iconic moments in Gioachino Rossini’s opera William Tell.
This Welsh National Opera version of Swiss nationalist Tell fighting the oppressive rule of the Austrian empire with his trusty crossbow could hardly be more timely as the Scottish referendum looms.
David Pountney’s production hits some sublime heights — the WNO’s orchestra and chorus are in their usual fine form — but ultimately the production pursues a meandering path over its three-and-a-half hours.
The storytelling is hampered by the lack of action and Pountney’s production relies on the sublime chorus to keep the attention without ever fully enaging it.
David Kemptser (pictured) as the Swiss crossbowman is a commanding presence but lacks the charisma to be a believable hero inspiring the Swiss country folk to revolt.
But Clive Bayley as the villainous Austrian governor Gesler is straight out of Hollywood as an evil persona. Positioned in a wheelchair, decked out with body armour and sporting a bald pate, he wouldn’t look out of place in Doctor Who.
His smirks as he orders acts of oppression and brutality, gaining him boos and hisses at the curtain call.
At the performance I saw, Gisela Stille was under doctor’s orders not to sing but her understudy had also been ill and could not take the role.
In a compromise that must have disconcerted the director and his two singers, Stille took to the stage and mimed while Camilla Roberts sang beautifully from the side.
The dancers with imaginative movement, choreographed by Amir Hosseinpour, were ravishing and stole the show.
Thus this is a hit-and-miss production but it’s worth seeing because of its stunning score and because it is rarely performed.
But whatever you do as you listen to the overture, it might be best to banish all thoughts of the Lone Ranger from the mind.
Runs until October 4 and then tours until November 29, details: www.wno.org.uk
