The text of an opera, operetta, or musical, including the dialogue, arias, and recitatives.
Here's a breakdown of what that means:
* Opera, operetta, or musical: These are all types of theatrical performances that heavily feature singing.
* Text: It's the words that the singers perform, not just the musical score.
* Dialogue: The spoken words between characters.
* Arias: Extended, lyrical songs sung by a solo character.
* Recitatives: Spoken-like melodies that move the plot forward, often used to connect arias.
The libretto is essentially the script of the musical work. It's the foundation upon which the music is built.
Examples of famous librettists:
* Lorenzo da Ponte (librettist for Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro," "Don Giovanni," and "Così fan tutte")
* W. S. Gilbert (librettist for many of Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas)
* Oscar Hammerstein II (librettist for many Broadway musicals, including "Oklahoma!" and "The Sound of Music")