Heated discussions are the norm behind the scenes in any opera company, but by the time the curtain went up on the March 2003 performance of William Tell by the venerable Paris National Opera, things went as smoothly as ever.

The company, which traces its roots back to the reign of Louis XIV in the late 17th century, is well skilled at handling difficult productions. But this one--involving an international cast and crew numbering over 350--was particularly challenging.

For the first time in the company's history, cameras were allowed backstage. As this documentary shows, the three months preceding opening night constituted a non-stop struggle to get every detail just right.
From costumes and set decorations to lighting and sound control, cutting-edge technology proved helpful. Combining traditional stage craft with computer-aided devices, the production took on an almost futuristic feeling without losing the grand romantic pageantry of the original. One suspects that Rossini, who composed William Tell specifically for the Paris Opera in 1829, would be proud.