What is the difference between a librettist and a composer?

Answer 1

A librettist writes the story of the play, Opera or musical. The librettist may also be the lyricist, too, but more often is not. The composer writes the music. The lyricist writes the words of the songs. The lyricist may also be the composer, the librettist, or just the lyricist. Most commonly, they are three separate people, but there are many exceptions.

Answer 2

A composer handles the composition. He/she creates the music and melodies of a certain piece. He determines the musical aspect of a piece. The librettist handles the libretto. In other words, he/she creates the text (the "story") that accompanies the work of music. Talented librettists would be Lorenzo Da Ponte and Emanuel Shikaneder, favorites of Mozart, or Arrigio Boito, a favorite of Verdi. Librettists and composers function together in creating vocal works like operas and oratorios. A lyricistis the person who writes words solely for the songs, such as a Broadway musical. Operas generally had a composer and a librettist. Broadway musicals have a composer, a librettist and a lyricist, though is some cases with musicals, the librettist and the lyricist are the same person, sometimes not.