Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Classical Music - Sunday 9 February 2014

Catherine Bott delves into the world of the librettists - the men who wrote the words for the great operas.

Catherine Bott continues one of the biggest non-fiction series in the history of British radio, as she shines the spotlight on every area of classical music. 

This week, Catherine answers the question, "What is a libretto and who were the great librettists?" 

Her exploration of the great wordsmiths of music begins with DaPonte, Mozart's greatest lyric writer, continues through Boito – who penned the words for Verdi's finest operas – right through to Oscar Hammerstein II in the 20th century, and today's greatest lyricist Stephen Sondheim.