A libretto is a text that is usually written in verse and is paired with a dramatic musical work. Libretti are the words that pair with the music to bring a story to life in operas, musicals, masques, chorales, and a variety of other forms of musical performance; they are simply the words that pair with the music to bring a story to life. Many companies publish libretti for performers and theaters to use when staging productions, and it is also possible to purchase a libretto designed specifically for music fans, which includes commentary on the text and music.
Humans have been performing dramatic music work for hundreds of years, so the concept of the libretto is quite old. However, in the 17th century, a number of prominent librettists began writing very fine prose works to accompany opera, and the libretto truly blossomed as an art form. The libretto is a term that many people associate with opera and the operatic tradition.
The librettist is usually not the work’s composer, though there are a few notable exceptions, such as Wagner. The libretto may be written before the music or in collaboration with the composer as he or she works on a piece, and it is frequently and painstakingly adjusted to fit with the music. The libretto text should, in theory, blend seamlessly with the music, resulting in a harmonious and beautiful performance of song and music that captivates the audience.
A libretto can be published in a variety of ways. A libretto is usually published in its own book, without music, so that people can study the content of the libretto to learn more about the work. The libretto is also included in the massive and cumbersome master orchestrations for performances, which contain all of the musical parts, from the drums to the singers, as well as stage directions and notations on how to perform the music.
As you might expect, librettos are produced in a variety of languages, and when they are published as separate books, many companies produce both the original libretto and a translation. Libretti, like other verse compositions, don’t always translate well because the art of the libretto is based on a complex scansion that is dependent on the sounds of the language in which it is written.