Opera Libretti, Translations, and Opera History
Explore opera libretti, composer biographies, historical milestones, and professionally formatted side-by-side translations.
A curated guide to the world’s most important operas, composers, and libretto traditions.
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Introducing LibrettoArchive in One Minute
LibrettoArchive brings original opera libretti and English translations together side by side, online and in bilingual paperback editions. This short video introduces the project, which now includes 33 published editions — and growing.
La fanciulla del West: Italian–English Side-by-Side Libretto With Translation
A new Italian–English translation of Puccini's La fanciulla del West, with corrections to the original Italian, carefully aligned dialogue and stage directions, and a closer look at the libretto's distinctive language and theme of redemption.
Turandot: Italian–English Side-by-Side Libretto With Translation
Revised Italian–English Edition; Italian–German and Italian–French also available
Featured operas
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Faust
Charles Gounod · 1859
Gounod’s Faust is currently on stage at both Houston Grand Opera and Teatro alla Scala. LibrettoArchive added a new French–English side-by-side edition this September.
Medea
Luigi Cherubini · 1797
Cherubini’s Medea is now on stage at the Metropolitan Opera. LibrettoArchive added the opera in four languages this August, making this a timely opportunity to explore its libretto and translations.
La bohème
Giacomo Puccini · 1896
Puccini’s La bohème tells the moving story of young artists, love, and loss in nineteenth-century Paris. Explore the complete Italian libretto with side-by-side English translation, recently updated for clarity and presentation.
Jenůfa
Leoš Janáček · 1904
New on LibrettoArchive: Jenůfa by Leoš Janáček — a new Czech–English side-by-side edition with a newly prepared English translation. With a new production of Jenůfa coming to the Metropolitan Opera in November 2026, explore the opera in advance and follow Janáček’s original Czech line by line alongside the English.
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Today in Opera History — November 13
All1843
Gaetano Donizetti's five-act grand opera "Dom Sébastien, roi de Portugal", with a libretto by Eugène Scribe, received its world premiere at the Paris Opéra.
Source: Gaetano Donizetti
1753
Jean-Philippe Rameau's one-act acte de ballet "Les sibarites", with a libretto by Jean-François Marmontel, received its first performance at the Théâtre de Fontainebleau.
1879
Edmond Audran's three-act opéra comique "Les noces d'Olivette", with a libretto by Alfred Duru and Henri Chivot, received its world premiere at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens in Paris.
1917
At Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Metropolitan Opera premiered its second production of Puccini’s *Tosca*, staged by Richard Ordynski with Geraldine Farrar.
2009
Jonathan Dove's chamber opera "Swanhunter", with a libretto by Alasdair Middleton inspired by the Finnish epic "Kalevala", received its world premiere at the Howard Assembly Rooms in Leeds in an Opera North production.
The Daily Opera Chronicle
Selected premieres and milestones from the world of opera — published daily.
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