• A libretto is the text of an opera, operetta, musical, ballet, oratorio, cantata, or other musical-dramatic work.
• It includes lyrics, dialogue and stage directions.
• The librettist is the person who writes the libretto.
• Librettists are often opera singers, music directors, composers, authors or professional writers who specialize in writing librettos.
• The librettist uses poetry, dialogue and stage direction to create a story and characters that communicate the themes and emotions of the opera.
• The librettist collaborates closely with the composer to ensure the text fits well with the music.