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.
Faust: French–English Side-by-Side Libretto With Translation
A new side-by-side French–English libretto is now available on LibrettoArchive, along with the German text, a new paperback, and a PDF preview.
Otello: Italian–English Side-by-Side Libretto With Translation
A new Italian–English edition of Verdi's Otello is now published, following a detailed review of Boito's Italian text, corrections to the English translation, and improvements to the side-by-side paperback layout.
Maria Stuarda: Italian–English Side-by-Side Libretto With Translation
A new Italian–English bilingual libretto of Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda, with a newly prepared paperback. A closer look at the translation, corrections to the Italian text, and some interesting differences between printed and performed versions.
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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.
Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart · 1790
Mozart’s Così fan tutte features a newly revised Italian–English libretto, with improvements to translation accuracy, formatting, and consistency. A new second edition paperback is also available.
Macbeth
Giuseppe Verdi · 1847
Explore Verdi’s Macbeth with the complete Italian libretto and a new English translation by Dmitrii Murashev, presented side by side on LibrettoArchive. A good time to revisit the opera: the Metropolitan Opera opens its 2026–27 season with a new production of Macbeth on September 22, with performances through October 20.
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 — October 27
All1780
François-André Danican Philidor's three-act tragédie lyrique "Persée", with a libretto by Jean-François Marmontel adapted from Philippe Quinault, received its world premiere at the Académie royale de musique in Paris.
1827
Vincenzo Bellini's two-act opera "Il pirata", with a libretto by Felice Romani, received its world premiere at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. The opera marked a major breakthrough in Bellini's career.
1867
Italian premiere of Verdi's "Don Carlos" at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, conducted by Angelo Mariani.
1875
Léon Vasseur's three-act opéra-comique "La Cruche cassée", with a libretto by Jules Moinaux and Jules Noriac, received its world premiere at the Théâtre Taitbout in Paris.
1989
World premiere of Michael Tippett's opera "New Year" at Houston Grand Opera.
The Daily Opera Chronicle
Selected premieres and milestones from the world of opera — published daily.
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