Wilhelm Tell

Recording from the Burgtheater, 1990

Claus Peymann’s production of Schiller’s drama about oppression, rebellion, and human rights is less a fiery political appeal than a subtle exploration of human behavior in the midst of social conflict. With Gert Voss as Gessler, power and cruelty have nothing demonic about them; the despot is all too human—and thus all the more dangerous. Josef Bierbichler is unique as Tell—not a hero of freedom, not a political agitator, but someone who would rather be left in peace—and who, at the decisive moment, does what must be done. Premiere at the Burgtheater on March 23, 1989. Cast: Kirsten Dene, Regina Fritsch, Brigitta Furgler, Sonja Sutter, Oda Thormeyer, Josef Bierbichler, Markus Boysen, Anton Donniez, Uwe Dörr, Detlev Eckstein, Peter Fitz, Christian Fries, Heinz Frölich, Ulrich Gebauer, Florentin Groll, Paul Hoffmann, Klaus Höring, Ignaz Kirchner, Otmar Klein, Jörg Klettenheimer, Pavel Landovský, Florian Liewehr, Anselm Lipgens, Karl Menrad, Johann Adam Oest, Thomas Radleff, Alexander Rossi, Paul Rudolph, Kurt Sowinetz, Oliver Stern, Gert Voss, Dieter Witting, Peter Wolfsberger, and others.