noun

libretto

/lɪˈbrɛtoʊ/ · say it: lih·BRET·oh

the text of an opera or musical work

In Arts & Culture

In more detail

1. (noun) the words sung in an opera or other musical work

2. (noun) a printed booklet containing these words

Examples

1. The composer wrote both the music and the libretto for the opera.
2. She read along in the libretto while watching the performance.

How to use libretto

Libretto refers specifically to the sung text of an opera, oratorio, or similar vocal musical work, distinct from instrumental music. It emphasizes the literary and performative aspects of the words as they appear in the score or as printed in the accompanying booklet that operagoers often consult. The term is more precise and formal than the general word 'lyrics,' which can apply to any sung composition.

Common phrases

opera libretto
libretto by
set to music
the libretto reads
original libretto

Synonyms

lyrics · text · script · words · book

Word family

librettist

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse libretto with 'libretto' in the sense of a conductor's score; the libretto is only the sung words, not the full musical notation or orchestration.

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