1. Who Wrote Carmen?

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In this opening essay, writer and sometime librettist Stephen Wyatt makes the case for a proper consideration of librettists and lyricists - the 'unsung heroes' behind the creation of operas and musicals. It's not just about giving credit where credit is due, it's about understanding and appreciating how musical theatre is created. He points out the skills involved in providing the underlying structure of words that every opera, operetta and musical needs to have and asks why these skills are so underappreciated. Is the appeal of music so strong that it drowns out all other considerations? Production Coordinator: Nina Semple Sound: Sean Kerwin Producer: Torquil MacLeod Executive Producer: Peter Hoare A Pier production for BBC Radio 4