William Shakespeare
Birthplace: Stratford-upon-Avon, Kingdom of EnglandWilson, C. R. (1992) 'Shakespeare, William', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, pp. 338-347.Wikipedia (2026) William Shakespeare. (Accessed: 30 September 2026).
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor, whose plays have been translated into every major living languageWikipedia (2026) William Shakespeare. (Accessed: 30 September 2026).. Born in Stratford-upon-AvonWikipedia (2026) William Shakespeare. (Accessed: 30 September 2026).Wilson, C. R. (1992) 'Shakespeare, William', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, pp. 338-347., he made his career in London as an actor, writer and sharer in the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later the King's Men, and wrote some 39 plays, 154 sonnets and three long narrative poems before retiring to StratfordWikipedia (2026) William Shakespeare. (Accessed: 30 September 2026).. More than 250 operas are based, mostly loosely, on his plays, but few have lastedWilson, C. R. (1992) 'Shakespeare, William', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, pp. 338-347.. Verdi's Macbeth, Otello and Falstaff stand at the head of those that haveWilson, C. R. (1992) 'Shakespeare, William', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, pp. 338-347., the last two with librettos by BoitoWilson, C. R. (1992) 'Shakespeare, William', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, pp. 338-347..
Source works
- Henry IV, Part 1 (1598)
- Henry IV, Part 2 (1600)
- Macbeth (c. 1606)
- The Merry Wives of Windsor (1602)
- Othello, the Moor of Venice (1604)
Written from
- Wilson, C. R. (1992) 'Shakespeare, William', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, pp. 338-347.
- Wikipedia (2026) William Shakespeare. (Accessed: 30 September 2026).