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Antonio Pappano returns with his Italian forces for a rare revival of Rossini's magnum opus about the legendary founding fathers of Switzerland and the hero who shoots an apple from his son's head.

The galloping climax of the overture is familiar, yet barely anything else from this grandest of operas has been heard at the Proms. Raising the roof with large-scale choral ensembles that look forward to Verdi and Wagner, the composer also makes extreme demands on his soloists.

Tenor John Osborn, one of several members of tonight's line-up who participated in the sensational Rome performances with which Pappano launched the orchestra's 2010-11 season, will tackle the challenging role of Arnold, with its fabled high Cs.

There will be two intervals of 30 minutes