William Tell is an opera in four acts by the Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini (see Rossini, Gioacchino Antonio). He composed it in Paris, giving it the French title Guillaume Tell, and using a French libretto (text) by Etienne de Jouy, Hippolyte Bis, and Armand Marast. The story is based on the German poet Friedrich Schiller's dramatic treatment of a Swiss legend. Rossini's William Tell received its first performance at the Paris Opera on Aug. 3, 1829. It was the composer's last opera. The opera's overture is one of the most familiar works in classical music.