Pietro Metastasio

Pietro Metastasio was an influential Italian poet and playwright of the 18th century, renowned for his work in opera librettos— the written text for musical stage works. His librettos often featured noble characters and themes of love, virtue, and heroism, and became the foundation for many operas performed across Europe. Metastasio's elegant, expressive language and mastery of dramatic structure greatly shaped the development of opera seria, a serious style of opera. His influence extended beyond his lifetime, inspiring countless composers and writers and shaping the future of Western theatrical and musical storytelling.