Le Villi: Italian–English Side-by-Side Libretto With Translation

I'm pleased to announce the addition of Le Villi, Giacomo Puccini's first opera, to LibrettoArchive.

Although Le Villi is a relatively short work and is performed less frequently than Puccini's later masterpieces, it occupies a special place in opera history. Composed in 1883–1884, it marked Puccini's operatic debut and revealed the dramatic instincts and melodic gift that would later produce La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot.

The website now includes the complete Italian libretto together with a side-by-side English translation, making it easier to follow the story, study the text, or enjoy the opera while listening to a recording.

As with other libretti on LibrettoArchive, I reviewed and formatted the text carefully to create a clear bilingual reading experience. The goal is to make both the original Italian and the English translation accessible to opera lovers, students, performers, and anyone curious about Puccini's earliest stage work.

The story of Le Villi draws on Central European folklore about supernatural spirits who take revenge on faithless lovers. Even in this early score, many listeners will recognize hints of the dramatic style that would later make Puccini one of the world's most beloved opera composers.

You can now explore the complete libretto and translation on LibrettoArchive:
https://www.librettoarchive.com/Le_Villi_libretto_Italian_English

Happy reading and listening!

— Dmitrii Murashev