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.
The Magic Flute: German–English Side-by-Side Libretto With Translation
A major revision of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" is now available, with Schikaneder's complete spoken dialogue restored, a revised English translation, and an expanded second edition.
Samson et Dalila by Camille Saint-Saëns in French, German, and English
New on LibrettoArchive: Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-Saëns, with French–German–English Side-by-Side libretto translation.
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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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AllToday in Opera History — October 16
All1771
First performance of Johann Adolf Hasse’s opera "Il Ruggiero ovvero L’eroica gratitudine" in Milan.
1790
Antonio Salieri’s "La cifra", with a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, received its first performance at Teatro alla Scala in Milan.
1876
First performance of Alfred Cellier’s operetta "Nell Gwynne" in Manchester.
1926
Zoltán Kodály’s folk opera "Háry János" received its world premiere at the Hungarian Royal Opera House in Budapest, conducted by Nándor Rékai.
2019
Simon Bruckard’s children’s opera "The Selfish Giant", with a libretto by Emma Muir-Smith after Oscar Wilde, received its world premiere at Arts Centre Melbourne in a Victorian Opera production.
The Daily Opera Chronicle
Selected premieres and milestones from the world of opera — published daily.
The complete archive remains here on the website.