Libretto Collection

Giacomo Puccini (1858 -1924) Italian composer of operas. Poster for Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly) an opera in three acts, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Scene from Mozarts opera Don Giovanni 1787 (c1914). Opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Austrian composer, first performed in Prague in 1787

Scene from Mozarts opera The Marriage of Figaro. (Le Nozze di Figaro), comic opera (opera buffa) with libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte (1749-1838) after Beaumarchais

Giacomo Puccini (1858 -1924) Italian composer of operas. Poster for Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly)
529078 Giacomo Puccini (1858 -1924) Italian composer of operas. Poster for Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly) an opera in three acts, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Costume design for Basilio, from The Marriage of Figaro, 1905 (colour litho)
GIA938515 Costume design for Basilio, from The Marriage of Figaro, 1905 (colour litho) by Caramba, Luigi Sapelli (1865-1936); Museo Teatrale alla Scala, Milan, Italy; (add.info.: Le nozze di Figaro)

Fernand Cortez
3118738 Fernand Cortez; (add.info.: Engraved scene from the opera 'Fernand Cortez' by Gaspare Spontini (1774-1851) an Italian opera composer and conductor

Illustration depicting characters from Mignon, an opera comique by Ambroise Thomas. 1866 (painting)
5669266 Illustration depicting characters from Mignon, an opera comique by Ambroise Thomas. 1866 (painting); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Giuseppe Giacosa (1847-1906) (photograph)
XJL196668 Giuseppe Giacosa (1847-1906) (photograph); Civica Raccolta Stampe Bertarelli, Milan, Italy; (add.info.: plays usually set in Piedmont; with Luigi Illica)

Set design for Mozart's Magic Flute, 1863 (illustration)
544222 Set design for Mozart's Magic Flute, 1863 (illustration); (add.info.: ('Die Zauberflote'), opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Il Greco in Troia: Plate 8. Creator: Arnold van Westerhout
Il Greco in Troia: Plate 8. The Greeks in Troy

Il Greco in Troia: Plate 1. Creator: Arnold van Westerhout
Il Greco in Troia: Plate 1. The Greeks in Troy

Il Greco in Troia: Plate 9. Creator: Arnold van Westerhout
Il Greco in Troia: Plate 9. The Greeks in Troy

Il Greco in Troia: Plate 5. Creator: Arnold van Westerhout
Il Greco in Troia: Plate 5. The Greeks in Troy

Il Greco in Troia: Plate 7. Creator: Arnold van Westerhout
Il Greco in Troia: Plate 7. The Greeks in Troy

Il Greco in Troia: Plate 6. Creator: Arnold van Westerhout
Il Greco in Troia: Plate 6. The Greeks in Troy

Il Greco in Troia: Plate 3. Creator: Arnold van Westerhout
Il Greco in Troia: Plate 3. The Greeks in Troy

Il Greco in Troia: Plate 4. Creator: Arnold van Westerhout
Il Greco in Troia: Plate 4. The Greeks in Troy

Portrait de Caroline Segond-Wéber (1867-1945), sociétaire de la Comédie-Française, dans... 1899
Portrait de Caroline Segond-Weber (1867-1945), societaire de la Comedie-Francaise, dans le role de Danielo de "La Reine Fiammette" de Catulle-Mendes, 1899

Il Greco in Troia: Plate 10. Creator: Arnold van Westerhout
Il Greco in Troia: Plate 10. The Greeks in Troy

Il Greco in Troia: Plate 2. Creator: Arnold van Westerhout
Il Greco in Troia: Plate 2. The Greeks in Troy

Cover of Sheet Music for Samson, an Oratorio by Handel, published in 1759 (engraving)
XJF323038 Cover of Sheet Music for Samson, an Oratorio by Handel, published in 1759 (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: George Frederick Handel (1685-1759)

Scene from Tom Jones, comic opera by Edward German
Scene from Tom Jones, a comic opera by Edward German, based on the 18th century novel by Henry Fielding, with a libretto by Robert Courtneidge and Alexander Thompson, and lyrics by Charles Taylor

Music cover, Arioso du Roi de Lahore, opera by Massenet
Music cover, Arioso du Roi de Lahore from the opera The King of Lahore, sung by Jean Lassalle in the role of the scheming minister, Scindia

Scene from Mozarts opera The Marriage of Figaro. (Le Nozze di Figaro), comic opera (opera buffa)
538237 Scene from Mozarts opera The Marriage of Figaro. (Le Nozze di Figaro), comic opera (opera buffa) with libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte (1749-1838) after Beaumarchais

Musical Score for Poliuto by Donizetti (ink on paper)
LRI1199801 Musical Score for Poliuto by Donizetti (ink on paper) by Italian School, (19th century); Biblioteca del Conservatorio G. Verdi, Milan, Italy; Luisa Ricciarini; Italian, out of copyright

Costume design for Don Bartolo, from The Marriage of Figaro
GIA938513 Costume design for Don Bartolo, from The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1905 (colour litho) by Caramba

Costume design for Figaro, from The Marriage of Figaro
GIA938509 Costume design for Figaro, from The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, c.1880 (colour litho) by Italian School

Atto Primo, First page of libretto of Lichtenthal
LRI3088627 Atto Primo, First page of libretto of Lichtenthals adaptation of Mozarts Idomeneo, Re di Creta, 1843 (ink on paper) by Lichtenthal, Peter (1780-1853); Biblioteca del Conservatorio G

Scenes from Freischutz by Carl Maria von Weber, 1870 (litho)
XEE1079654 Scenes from Freischutz by Carl Maria von Weber, 1870 (litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Der FreischAotz, Op. 77, J)

The Death of Scarpia (Monsier Berton), illustration of Act 4 of Tosca
XEE2561296 The Death of Scarpia (Monsier Berton), illustration of Act 4 of Tosca with Sarah Bernhardt as La Tosca, cover of Le monde Illustre, 1887 (litho) by Marie

Costume design for Susanna, from The Marriage of Figaro
GIA938510 Costume design for Susanna, from The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, c.1880 (colour litho) by Italian School, (19th century); Museo Teatrale alla Scala, Milan

Costume Design for the Countess Almaviva, from The Marriage of Figaro
GIA938506 Costume Design for the Countess Almaviva, from The Marriage of Figaro, 1905 (gouache on paper) by Caramba, Luigi Sapelli (1865-1936); Private Collection; (add.info.: Le nozze di Figaro)

Costume design for the Countess Almaviva, from The Marriage of Figaro
GIA938505 Costume design for the Countess Almaviva, from The Marriage of Figaro, 1905 (gouache on paper) by Caramba, Luigi Sapelli (1865-1936); Private Collection; (add.info.: Le nozze di Figaro)

The Statue of the Commendatore and the Death of Don Giovanni
GIA938496 The Statue of the Commendatore and the Death of Don Giovanni, scene from Don Giovanni (engraving) by French School

Don Giovanni at the Masked Ball, scene from Don Giovanni (engraving)
GIA938495 Don Giovanni at the Masked Ball, scene from Don Giovanni (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Scene from Don Giovanni (engraving)
GIA938492 Scene from Don Giovanni (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

With hand on hip (colour litho)
973015 With hand on hip (colour litho) by Bull, Rene (1872-1942); Private Collection; (add.info.: With hand on hip. Illustration for Carmen by Prosper Merimee (Hutchinson)

He snatched the rosette (colour litho)
973010 He snatched the rosette (colour litho) by Bull, Rene (1872-1942); Private Collection; (add.info.: He snatched the rosette)

"With one bound she leapt over me and set off running"(colour litho)
972998 " With one bound she leapt over me and set off running" (colour litho) by Bull, Rene (1872-1942); Private Collection; (add.info)

The death of Carmen (colour litho)
972993 The death of Carmen (colour litho) by Bull, Rene (1872-1942); Private Collection; (add.info.: The death of Carmen. Illustration for Carmen by Prosper Merimee (Hutchinson)

Costume designs for Le Martyre de Saint Sebastien
CHT437879 Costume designs for Le Martyre de Saint Sebastien, a dramatic work commissioned by Ida Rubinstein with libretto by Gabriele d Annunzio, music by Claude Debussy

Mr Cinders, a Barrel of Fun, musical comedy, score by Vivian Ellis and Richard Myers, libretto by Clifford Grey and Greatorex Newman, presented by Macdonald & Young, Pleasure Garden Theatre

First Page of the Overture for the opera Silvana
LRI1079660 First Page of the Overture for the opera Silvana by Karl Maria von Weber (litho) by Italian School, (19th century); Biblioteca del Conservatorio G

Costume design for Barbarina, from The Marriage of Figaro
GIA938514 Costume design for Barbarina, from The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1905 (colour litho) by Caramba, Luigi Sapelli (1865-1936); Museo Teatrale alla Scala, Milan

Costume design for Cherubino, from The Marriage of Figaro
GIA938512 Costume design for Cherubino, from The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1905 (colour litho) by Caramba, Luigi Sapelli (1865-1936); Museo Teatrale alla Scala, Milan

Three Masked Guests, scene from Don Giovanni (engraving)
GIA938494 Three Masked Guests, scene from Don Giovanni (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Cartoon, Messrs Stephens and Yardley don t like being harassed, and are now running the " Vicar" themselves. Possibly a reference to the comic operetta, The Vicar of Bray

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"Libretto: The Art of Storytelling in Opera" The world of opera is a captivating realm where music and drama intertwine to create unforgettable experiences. At the heart of this enchanting art form lies the libretto, a carefully crafted text that breathes life into the characters and narratives on stage. Giacomo Puccini, an Italian composer renowned for his operas, understood the power of a well-written libretto. His masterpiece "Madama Butterfly" tells a poignant tale of love and sacrifice through Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa's evocative words. A poster for this opera transports us to its ethereal world, inviting us to immerse ourselves in its emotional depths. Mozart, another maestro of opera composition, collaborated with librettist Lorenzo da Ponte to bring us comedic gems like "The Marriage of Figaro. " This scene from their work showcases the lively interactions between characters as they navigate love's complexities with wit and charm. In Mozart's "Don Giovanni, " we witness scenes that delve into darker themes. From the deathly encounter between Il Commendatore and Giovanni himself to their haunting journey into the World of the Dead, these engravings capture moments charged with tension and intrigue. Opera extends beyond music; it encompasses visual splendor too. Costume designs like Basilio's vibrant attire in "The Marriage of Figaro" add depth to character portrayal while sheet music covers like Massenet's "Arioso du Roi de Lahore" offer glimpses into grandiose spectacles awaiting audiences. Even Handel's oratorio "Samson, " published centuries ago, demonstrates how they can transcend time by narrating biblical stories with profound emotion. Meanwhile, Edward German’s comic opera “Tom Jones” brings levity through lighthearted scenes filled with laughter-inducing antics. Behind every successful opera lies collaboration between composers and librettists.