from Act III, Scene 2 of the French opera
Guillaume Tell by Gioacchino Rossini
Libretto: Étienne de Jouy
Role: Guillaume Tell, a Swiss patriot, father of Jemmy and husband of Hedwige
Voice Part: baritone Fach: lyric baritone
Setting: the main square of Altdorf, Switzerland, thirteenth century
Synopsis: When Guillaume Tell refuses to genuflect to the symbol of Austrian government, Gesler picks out Tell's son Jemmy and orders Tell to shoot an apple off Jemmy's head or Jemmy will be killed. Before shooting, however, Tell warns Jemmy to stay completely still and think of his mother.