The William Tell Overture is the opening piece of the homonymous opera (Guillame Tell) written by Rossini and premiered in 1829. It was his last opera, after which he went into semi-retirement, only to work on cantatas, sacred music and secular vocal music. Ther overture is in four parts withut pause. The piece has seen repeated use and parody, most famously as the theme music for The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of William Tell. Franz List created a piano transcription (labeled S. 552). There have also been transcriptions by other composers.
