librettists
Musical theater wordsmiths
Librettists write the text for operas, musicals, and other works combining words with music.
The libretto—Italian for "little book"—includes dialogue, lyrics, and stage directions.
A librettist collaborates closely with the composer, sometimes adapting existing stories: Oscar Hammerstein II was among Broadway's most successful librettists.
Creator of musical works
- scoreNumerical standing in competition
- ariaOperatic solo piece
- duetPiece for two
- ensembleUnified group or outfit
premiere · soprano · tenor · baritone · conductor · staging · diva · bel canto
Writer of song texts
- dramatistWriter of stage works
- playwrightAuthor of stage dramas
- wordsmithSkilled prose artisan
- composerCreator of musical works
collaboration · text · dialogue · aria · recitative · verse · adaptation · narrative
Theatrical art combining song
- operettaComic musical theater piece
- musicalSung theatrical production
- oratorioUnstaged sacred choral work
- cantataVocal work with instruments
masque · ballet · Broadway · West End · Bollywood · kabuki · pantomime · revue
Traditional male name
- HammersteinFamed musical theater lyricist
- RomaniNomadic ethnic group
- ScribeProper name, writing-related
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
Mozart · Verdi · Strauss · Puccini · Sullivan · patronage · commission · manuscript
composer
Creator of musical works
ensemble · premiere · soprano · tenor · baritone · conductor · staging · diva · bel canto · tragedy
lyricist
Writer of song texts
- dramatistWriter of stage works
- playwrightAuthor of stage dramas
- wordsmithSkilled prose artisan
composer · collaboration · text · dialogue · aria · recitative · verse · adaptation · narrative · storytelling
opera
Theatrical art combining song
- operettaComic musical theater piece
- musicalSung theatrical production
- oratorioUnstaged sacred choral work
cantata · masque · ballet · Broadway · West End · Bollywood · kabuki · pantomime · revue · vaudeville
Gilbert
Traditional male name
- HammersteinFamed musical theater lyricist
- RomaniNomadic ethnic group
- ScribeProper name, writing-related
collaboration · Mozart · Verdi · Strauss · Puccini · Sullivan · patronage · commission · manuscript · archive
- writersauthor, novelist, writer, poet, journalist
- collaboratorscoauthors, partner, cowriters, coworker, co-directors
- dramatistsplaywrights, dramatists, dramaturgs, dramaturges, comedy writers
- music professionalsarrangers, orchestrators, conductors
- Writers GuildWGA, screenwriters, staff writers, showrunners, comedy writers
- collaborative writersco-authors
librettistscomposers
Creators of musical works
opera composers · songwriters · orchestrators · choreographers · conductors
librettistsopera singers
Classical theatrical vocalists
performers · vocalists · sopranos · tenors · divas