Opera libretti
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:30 pm
How about posting printed libretti for the p. d. operas on IMSLP -- especially for the numerous operas that still remain in manuscript? (The libretti for these operas were often published separately -- even though the scores may not have been engraved or professionally copied.) The words in these ms scores are often illegible.
In addition, it would be useful if the operas on IMSLP included libretti in p. d. translations to various languages.
There are two kinds of libretto translations: literal and singing. It would be important to distinguish between the two.
In addition, there are numerous published vocal scores on IMSLP, especially of light operas (e.g. Offenbach, Herbert, etc.,) in which the spoken dialogue was not included. If the original libretti for these works could be found and posted, that could be a major step in making these works available for performances now.
The website http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/librettim.html has a small collection of libretti online --but it is just a drop in the ocean, and most of the operas are familiar chestnuts. The site also has many links to other websites -- but oddly, virtually all of the links to opera libretto sites are dead.
Perhaps the first step would be making available on this forum the locations of archives, libraries and websites where copies of p.d. librettos can be found.
MS
In addition, it would be useful if the operas on IMSLP included libretti in p. d. translations to various languages.
There are two kinds of libretto translations: literal and singing. It would be important to distinguish between the two.
In addition, there are numerous published vocal scores on IMSLP, especially of light operas (e.g. Offenbach, Herbert, etc.,) in which the spoken dialogue was not included. If the original libretti for these works could be found and posted, that could be a major step in making these works available for performances now.
The website http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/librettim.html has a small collection of libretti online --but it is just a drop in the ocean, and most of the operas are familiar chestnuts. The site also has many links to other websites -- but oddly, virtually all of the links to opera libretto sites are dead.
Perhaps the first step would be making available on this forum the locations of archives, libraries and websites where copies of p.d. librettos can be found.
MS