A composer some opera-lover digs? (5)
I believe the answer is:
verdi
'a composer' is the definition.
(Giuseppe Verdi 1813-1901)
'some opera-lover digs?' is the wordplay.
'some' says the answer is hidden in the clue (some parts of the word are used).
'VERDI' is hidden within 'opera lover digs'.
(Other definitions for verdi that I've seen before include "Composer of the operas Macbeth, Falstaff" , "one put on at La Scala" , "Giuseppe _____, composer of "La Traviata"" , "Drive to meet great composer" , "Drive around to locate opera composer" .)