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Libretto definition

lĭ-brĕtō
libretti librettos
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The text of a dramatic musical work such as an opera, including the lyrics to be sung and sometimes interpolated spoken passages.
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A book containing such a text.
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The words, or text, of an opera, oratorio, or other long choral work.
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A book containing these words.
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The text of a dramatic musical work, such as an opera.
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A book containing such a text.
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
libretto
Plural:
librettos

Origin of libretto

  • Italian diminutive of libro book from Latin liber libr- inner bark of trees used as a writing material, book

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Italian, diminutive of libro (“book"), from Latin liber (“book").

    From Wiktionary

Libretto Sentence Examples

  • The libretto was complete before his visit to London in 1877.

  • His Leonore (1798) formed the basis of the libretto of the Fidelio of Beethoven.

  • Wagner's choice of subjects had from the outset shown an imagination far above that of any earlier librettist; yet he had begun with stories which could attract ordinary minds, as he dismally realized when the libretto of Der fliegende Hollander so pleased the Parisian wire-pullers that it was promptly set to music by one of their friends.

  • Bernstein also famously conducted an orchestra made up of music students at the festival for the world premier of the opera Peter Grimes, composed by Benjamin Britten with libretto by Montagu Slater.

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