Libraries

Vocal Music: Librettos and Song Texts

Guide to finding vocal music, including songs in anthologies, in the music library

Finding Books in the KU Libraries

Librettos - Online Resources

Libretto Collections and Song Translations

Opera and musical theater librettos can be found under the call numbers ML48 - ML50 and under the subject heading of Operas - Librettos. When looking for a specific libretto, try searching for the opera title followed by the world, "libretto." Also, check the liner notes to recordings; the complete libretto and sometimes a translation can often be found there.

Some general sources are listed below.

For prolific opera composers such as Puccini and Verdi, there are many more collections that those listed here. Try an author search on the composer's name (last name, first), then jum pto the title, "Operas - librettos," in the list of results.

Below are examples of song translations and transcriptions for specific composers. To browse others, try a subject search on "Songs -- texts."

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Attribution

The text and examples on this page are courtesy of Bowling Green State University Library.

Subjects: Music