威尔第与他的合作者

Verdi and his collaborators

一般来说，一部优秀歌剧的诞生，离不开好的剧本。在歌剧史上，很多杰出的歌剧都来源于戏剧，但戏剧常常并不适合歌剧的要求。显然，作为歌剧来说，戏剧的脚本太过冗长，若不大幅度地删节甚至改写的话，无法适合歌剧的演出需求。这样一来，歌剧脚本的作者就显得相当重要。

Generally speaking,an excellent opera can't do without a good script.In the history of opera,a lot of outstanding works stem from drama, yet certain dramas weren't naturally suitable for the operatic treatment. Opera librettos are often dramas that are shortened,with plots simplified or even adapted.Verdi worked with three important librettists in his life: Temistocle Solera,Francesco Maria Piave and Arrigo Boito,spanning the composer's early,middle and late periods respectively.