A cri de coeur from Altdorf

Autor(en): [s.n.]

Objekttyp: Article

Zeitschrift: The Swiss observer : the journal of the Federation of Swiss Societies in the UK

Band (Jahr): - (1976)

Heft 1722

PDF erstellt am: 04.10.2021

Persistenter Link: http://doi.org/10.5169/seals-690634

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http://www.e-periodica.ch A CRI DE COEUR FROM ALTDORF

(We mean to be a united people of why this help is necessary and the manner own freedom. As long as brothers) in which it can be rendered. continues to be discussed in (Friedrich von Schiller, "William Tell") The Society is certain that it will be in some form or other, freedom itself will able to count on the active not remain a subject and In the year 1512 the "Uri Play of support of topical debate, only of the Swiss but also the this is what the William Tell" was performed in the main people of really matters in long run. countless William Tell admirers in foreign square of Altdorf, capital of the Canton Furthermore, it would certainly be countries. mention is made the of Uri. Special of a grave mistake simply to abandon a fact that the Minister the Since 1899 Friedrich von Schiller's of Interior of theatrical tradition such as that which the Swiss Federal Government, Dr. Flans "William Tell" has been produced at exists at Altdorf, since such traditions Hürlimann, has assumed the intervals at the same historical site of personally contribute to the cohesion of our society honorary patronage of the campaign. Altdorf. In time of peace and periods which today is in graver danger of disinte- fraught with danger, the amateur actors gration than ever before. In this respect THREE IMPORTANT REASONS WHY of the Altdorf William Tell Players' the Altdorf tradition may be an example THE Society aroused the enthusiasm of hun- WILLIAM TELL FESTIVALS OF also for other parts of our country and ALTDORF MUST GO ON dreds of thousands of spectators from at the world. home and abroad. In 1925 the Society Co/zsz't/era/z'ozzs o/ a« zdeo/ogzca/ The second major reason speaking invested its personal resources to build /zap/re clearly predominate. The Altdorf for the continuation of the William Tell their own William Tell Playhouse. William Tell Players' Society is convinced Festivals is the fact that for the past 50 The William Tell players of Altdorf that "their" William Tell plays will con- years the William Tell Playhouse has been have continued to stand by their hero to tinue to meet a genuine need. Tliis a ge/zz//>ze cz-z/rzzra/ ce«/"«'. The theatre has this day. Now, however, the tradition of attitude has nothing to do whatever with been available not only for the Tell plays the Altdorf William Tell theatre is in drumbeating patriotism or the perpétua- but also for other theatrical as well as serious jeopardy. If the future of the tion of a historical illusion. Despite all the musical events, exhibitions, conventions Festival is to be assured, the organisers criticisms aimed at the play, William Tell and conferences of every kind. This fact will have to be able to rely on the is a symbol of the love of freedom and of has been a powerful stimulant to the solidarity and sponsorship of wide circles freedom itself for hundreds of thousands creative cultural forces of the region and of the Swiss population and of the of human beings and for many people the Canton. Society's numerous sympathisers abroad. personifies the hope that a William Tell of A real loss would result from the The William Tell Society shows their own will one day bring them their impossibility to carry on these tasks in

77z/s o/c/ c/rai/v/ngr of tfze app/e s/?oof/V?gr scene /h A/Zt/orf rv/7/ gr/Ve some /c/ea of the anf/'po/'fy of f/?e fzer/Yagre lv/z/c/z Z/ze A/fc/orf P/ayecs want to prese/ve. P/'cft/re cozy/tesy of S/VTO.

22 sations to take advantage of this fact. Continuation of the William Tell Festivals would be a first and major point on any agenda for the expansion of the tourist industry. There is no doubt that in the past fifty years the William Tell Festivals have played an important economic role for the region of Altdorf and its wider surrounds. One may add that the con- struction of the Swiss motorway system, especially the connection along the left- hand lake shore to the area, has greatly improve the accessibility of the Festival site which accordingly may be expected to grow as a tourist centre also in future.

WHY THE WILLIAM TELL PLAYHOUSE URGENTLY NEEDS RECONSTRUCTION Who will finance the restoration? The William Tell Playhouse, which is owned by the William Tell Players' Society of Altdorf, was built in 1925, directly adjacent to the former town hall. It has since been used not only for the performance of Schiller's "William Tell" but quite generally as a theatre, concert hall and convention centre serving the Altdorf area. In the course of the decades the building has grown obsolete. The roof, sanitary and electrical installations, the stage fittings and equipment are in ex- /And tft/'s modern weiv of A/ft/orf w/// /?e/p ftrv'np oi/r fftougftts up fo date. f/cfure by tremely poor condition today and official coorfes/ of 5/V7"0. warnings have been issued by the health authorities and the fire brigade that future. An enquiry conducted in the A third weighty argument for the further use of the building for its present communities and various organisations preservation of the William Tell Festivals purpose may be prohibited. has disclosed, incidentally, that following is the economic and /"ouràP'c va/ne of the The janitor's appartment is virtually an appropriate reconstruction of the Play- event not only for the region of Altdorf uninhabitable. The theatre seats, too, are house the demand for the use of the and the Canton of Uri, but for Central in precarious condition and no longer premises would again rise substantially. Switzerland and the country as a whole. suitable for use by the public. Since the Experts have confirmed that the We are incessantly being reminded — and situation has worsened rapidly in the past restoration would again make available to rightly so — that considerable efforts are few years, there is serious doubt about the Canton of Uri a playhouse, concert required to expand the tourist economy the ability of the William Tell Playhouse and convention hall, meeting the needs of of the country and that even greater to continue in its rôle. a region of the size of Uri. Accordingly, efforts will be needed in future. The William Tell Players' Society of to relinquish the building or to put it to Uri and con- Altdorf therefore found itself confronted use for other purposes would not be tinue to be regarded as the fount of our with the question of whether it would be justified. freedom. All the criticisms of the William possible to carry on the 75-year-old If the William Tell Players' Society Tell legend will not be able to discourage William Tell Festival tradition of Altdorf were to abandon its objective, a suitable the hundreds of thousands of people or whether alternative solutions could be replacement would have to be found from every part of the world who come found to perform the play. A study group and sooner or later, at a cost which undoubt- to visit the region every year. It is the was formed to analyse the problem in edly would be vastly greater. task of the public and the tourist organi- December 1972 submitted a recommen-

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23 dation to the Society's General Meeting 1804 Schiller completed his play. The Budapest at the invitation of the calling for the complete restoration of the first performance of "William Tell" Budapest city authorities. From Playhouse. The cost of the reconstruc- took place at the Court Theatre of 27th June to 2nd July the 160 tion, based on autumn 1973 prices, was on 17th March. On 4th William Tell actors aroused the en- estimated at Sw.Fr. 4,000,000. The basis November of the same year the thusiasm of thousands of spectators of this recommendation is outlined in the play was first produced in Lucerne with their performance on the vast attached summary of the Study Group's under the direction of Vinzenz open-air stage on Saint-Margaret's report. Weiss of Dresden. The performance Island. The William Tell Player's Society was held at the Comedy Playhouse 1941 On the occasion of the 650th Anni- unanimously approved the recommenda- above the vestry of the Jesuit versary of the foundation of the tion. // /hereby a/firmer/ /Ys w////«£/;ess to church. Immediately thereafter the Confederation of Switzerland the carry' on /he Bh'/ham Fe// Fes/ira/ /rech- same German touring company per- Altdorf company enacted the Rüth /ion ancf /o do every/hing ;n z'/s power /o formed the Zürich première of the scene at the historical site of the raise //re /wnds necessary /or /he res/ora- play. Critics objected to the severe nation's birth. /ton o///re buih/ing. pruning to which the piece had 1956 Dr. Oskar Eberle of Thalwil and It is obvious that the William Tell been subjected. was commissioned to Players' Society will not be able to 1859 The Cantons of Central Switzerland modernize Schiller's play on the finance the project from its own re- dedicated "Schiller's Rock" basis of the traditional material. sources and that it wi// /rave /o conn/ on between Rüth and to the The work included the construction //re a and the substi- assrs/ance o/ a wider prr/r/rc, bo/h "Bard of William Tell" as part of of revolving stage r'nsr'de and orr/sr'de //re Can/on o/ Uri. their celebration of Schiller's 100th tution of projected stage settings The William Tell Players' Society is birthday. On this occasion the Rüth created by Max Bignens, of Basle convinced that the necessary help will be scene was performed for the first and Münich, for the old sets. Dr. forthcoming from circles in the Canton of time at the historical site. Eberle died shortly before the play Uri, in the rest of Switzerland and from opened in its new form. 1883 In June of that year the new abroad, since there is doubt that the 1959 The Altdorf devoted an no "William Tell's Chapel" was conse- players William Tell at the extra Friedrich Festivals, performed crated near the "Tellsplatte". Ernst playing season to William Tell the Playhouse, will continue to Stückelberg created the frescoes for von Schiller, classic, on the be as occasion the regarded major cultural events. the Chapel. of bicentenary of the poet's death. The season was di- 1895 The William Tell Monument, ere- rected by Erwin Kohlund. ated by the sculptor 1962 In this year the William Tell Richard Kissling in was Zürich, Players' Society for the first time unveiled in the main square of a citizen Uri the Altdorf. appointed of to post of Artistic Director in the /I C7/FCW/CLF OF F//F W/L/./MM 1898 In response to a proposal submitted of Dr. Tino Arnold, a radio 71ÊXZ, FFS77K4FS' person by Lieutenant-Colonel Alois Huber, play specialist. On 7th July the 1512 First performance of the original merchant, future Governor and first festive opening performance took "Uri Play of William Tell" at actor of the rôle of William Tell, place in the presence of the Lord Altdorf, the oldest Government- the Men's Choir of Altdorf unani- Mayor of Berlin, Dr. Franz sponsored festival of the Swiss Con- mously decided to take the organi- Amrehn, to whom the President of the federation. Based on the Swiss sation of William Tell Festivals the Altdorf municipality presented Chronicle composed by Petermann at Altdorf in hand. On 18th an antique cross-bow as a gift to the Etterlin of Lucerne it contained the October a people's meeting was Free City of Berlin. first known pictorial presentation called at the town hall, and the 1965 The festive opening of the season of William Tell's shooting the apple inhabitants of Altdorf were unani- was held on 3rd July. It was com- from the head of his son and is mous in agreeing that the venture bined with the formal inauguration attributed to the schoolmaster should proceed. on the lake shore near Flüelen of Compars of Altdorf. 1889 On 25th June "Association for the "Rüth Serment" sculpture by 1648 A play describing the origins of the William Tell Performances" opened Werner Witschi, of Bollingen, Confederation, distinguished by the with Schiller's "William Tell" in a Berne, which was at the National actors' "exquisite garments" and 1200-seat "William Tell Play- Exhibition at the year dealing with the "extermination of house", a wooden structure es- before and had been presented to the tyrants" and the deeds of pecially built for the purpose on the Canton of Uri by the City of William Tell, was performed at the "Schützenmatte" (Archers' Lausanne as a gift. Altdorf. Field), today a sports stadium. The 1968 Erwin Kohlund was once again 1748 Altdorf revived its William Tell director was Gustav Thiess, of called to Altdorf to direct the Festival tradition in the form of a . William Tell Festivals. The tragedy festival described as "Flourishing In the years 1899, 1900, 1901, in of Czechoslovakia conveyed a note Uri". 1904 and 1905, in 1908 and 1909 of cruel reality to the play. 1802 Friedrich von Schiller, whose wife and for the last time in 1912 and 1971 Official vernissage of the exhibition Charlotte had travelled through 1913 a total of 91 performances "William Tell drawings by the Switzerland as Fräulein von were given, all of them very well students of Uri". Lengefeld in 1783-84 and had attended. In the war year of 1915 brought home enduring impressions the old William Tell Playhouse was of the country, began his prelimi- torn down. Today the future of the William nary work on a William Tell drama. 1924 On 21st April, 1924, the founda- Tell Festivals at Altdorf is in grave jeop- His source material included the /25 tion stone was laid for the second ardy. The William Tell Playhouse built in chronicles by Etterlin, Stumpf, Playhouse, designed by architects 1925 is in urgent need of restoration. Tschudi and Johannes von Müller. Kaiser and Bracher, of , in The cost of this task will by far In addition, he made use of remi- Central Switzerland. On 21st July, surpass the means of the William Tell niscences and travelogues, the 1925, the imposing new Playhouse Players' Society. The Society will there- "Natural " was inaugurated, with the première fore have to depend on the active succour by Scheuchzer, as well as the origi- directed by Otto Bosshard of of its friends. nal William Tell play (printed in Winterthur. "Should you need me for any 1698). In 1803 he wrote the play in 1939 In this year the William Tell com- resolute deed, call for Tell. He shall not dramatic detail. pany made a guest appearance in fail you". How about you? 24