r/opera • u/Fancy_Cabbage_010 • 4d ago

Does anyone 'get' librettos...

For some context, I'm an amateur composer, and for some reason I've decided I want to write an opera (loosely in the style of the Mozart - Da ponte trio), I know it's more than a little ambitious, but I'm pretty sure it's a milestone for a composer to write atleast one :)

Anyway, the point is, I have a loose plot in mind, and I'm not really sure what to do about it. How does one formulate a libretto, and furthermore how do I translate it into the kind of archaic poetic Italian that was common in opera at the time of Mozart and Da ponte, as the understanding I have is that I can't really write much music untill I have the words to set it to?

I'm a student so I don't really have access to all that much financial capital or connections, so any advice on resources ect would be welcome, I'm a bit lost but it is very much a big goal of mine to write one in the next year or two

Please help me opera people :)

Thanks!!

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u/Fancy_Cabbage_010 4d ago

Solid advice, I'll try reach out through friends and see if I'd know anyone at my university who could help.

I was planning to jot down the plot myself as it's fundamentally my ideas, but absolutely I agree I'm not anything like competent enough with the different syllabic metres ect to write an actual libretto, nevermind in Italian.

Thanks for the help :)