Who writes the libretto for an opera?

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Members of the Dnepropetrovsk State Opera and Ballet Theatre perform Il Trovatore, with a woman in tattered costume singing dramatically at center stage and other actors in period dress. — opera Performance of Giuseppe Verdi's *Il trovatore*, 2011.

The libretto—the text of an opera—is written by a professional known as a librettist. Historically, librettists were often distinct from composers, such as Lorenzo Da Ponte, who collaborated with Mozart, or Hugo von Hofmannsthal, who partnered with Richard Strauss.1

However, the role is not exclusive to dedicated writers. Many composers have chosen to write their own librettos to ensure the text aligns perfectly with their musical vision. Notable examples of composer-librettists include Richard Wagner, Hector Berlioz, Alban Berg, Leoš Janáček, Arnold Schoenberg, and Gian Carlo Menotti.1

Additionally, librettos are sometimes adapted from existing literary works, such as plays or novels, rather than being written as original texts for the stage.1