A word about words

The three main Puccini operas we have looked at so far (La Boheme, Tosca and Madam Butterfly) all share one important feature: the librettists.

The libretto (literally, little book) are the words of the opera and usually follow a draft scenario or synopsis (summary of the plot). The collaboration between composer and librettist is often fraught and the old argument prima la musica, poi le parole (first the music, then the words) or vice versa, has even inspired its own operas. It is important to remember that it is the composer who is the dramatist: with the music he will determine character, mood, emotion and pace. There are records of many arguments where the librettist has written beautiful poetry but that is no good to the composer's sense of drama. A good librettist needs to find words that can inspire the composer but must not be complete in themselves: the words need a composer to complete and enrich them.