Word
libretto
Phoneticsli·bret·to, stress on the second syllable
US/ɫəˈbɹɛtoʊ/
UK/lɪbɹˈɛtəʊ/
Españollibreto
Countable noun
Definition
n. the words of an opera or other long musical work, written to be sung on stage.
n. the complete text of an opera, operetta, or other extended vocal work, written for musical setting and stage performance.
Examples
“She reads the libretto before she watches the opera.”
“The director asks the cast to study the libretto so they understand the story before rehearsals start.”
“Scholars still debate whether a weak libretto can spoil fine music or whether strong staging can save a thin story.”
Examples
simple
“She reads the libretto before she watches the opera.”
contextual
“The director asks the cast to study the libretto so they understand the story before rehearsals start.”
complex
“Scholars still debate whether a weak libretto can spoil fine music or whether strong staging can save a thin story.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “libretto” in context.
Verb
01. adapt libretto
“The director adapted the libretto to suit a modern political setting.”
verb + noun
02. commission libretto
“The festival commissioned a new libretto from a contemporary poet.”
verb + noun
03. depart from libretto
“The production departs significantly from the libretto's stage directions.”
verb + prep + noun
04. libretto lacks
“The libretto lacks emotional depth despite the beautiful score.”
noun + verb
05. libretto unfolds
“The libretto unfolds across three acts set in 19th-century Paris.”
noun + verb
06. revise libretto
“The composer asked his collaborator to revise the libretto before rehearsals.”
verb + noun
Adjective
07. italian libretto
“The soprano studied the Italian libretto to improve her pronunciation.”
adj + noun
08. original libretto
“Mozart's opera follows Da Ponte's original libretto very closely.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. author of libretto
“Hofmannsthal was the author of the libretto for Elektra.”
noun + prep + noun
10. based on the original libretto
“This production is based on the original libretto from 1892.”
11. commission a new libretto
“The company plans to commission a new libretto next season.”
12. set the libretto to music
“Verdi set the libretto to music in less than six months.”
Usage
Plural 'librettos' or 'libretti'; often paired with 'of' to name the work.
Real-World Examples
“Leontyne Price as Cleopatra in a 1966 publicity photograph for Antony and Cleopatra composed by Samuel Barber with libretto by Franco Zeffirelli.” “The late Herbert Kretzmer, who wrote the English libretto for Les Misérables, felt he was not given enough credit for transforming the original French musical into the hugely popular English-language version, letters have revealed.” “A: "I have a lot on my plate – I'm working on a libretto for an opera scheduled for 2008, contributing a story for National Geographic, and researching for a new novel.” Etymology
From Italian libretto, diminutive of libro (“book”), from Latin liber (“book”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/libretto
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0