Libre Libretto
March 9th, 2009 Posted in classical music, opera, shostakovich
One of the flopping fresh fish hauled in this morning by the eMailman featured a classical music query, which I’m going to submit to the ultimate crowd wisdom of You Guys. The question in question was whether there is a good location for not only free opera librettos, but also their English translations. It looks like there are options for the former (e.g. Karadar; the Aria Database) but the translation part is trickier.
Any suggestions?
Oops, almost forgot about the (ultra-descriptively titled) Lied and Art Song Texts Page, which is where I go when trying to remember the approximate words to the last two Alex Blok songs. (Which is what I’ve been listening to all day, either in my head or via real, honest compression waves into the ears).
March 10th, 2009 at 12:08 am
I’d like to find good web sources for librettos, too. The best I’ve been able to do is just google around and catch as catch can.
I think you’ll find the problem is that most translations (if not the original librettos too) are under copyright, so obviously they can’t be put on the web for free.
March 10th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
I know Naxos Music Library is not always free for all, but don’t they have an extensive Librettos?
March 13th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
I usually start with the Wikipedia page for the opera or work, which will frequently (but not always) include a like to the libretto and translation.
March 26th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Yo, thanks for the links dudes.