Verdi composed lines -- adding finishing touches for The Leopard made little sense (9)

'made little sense' is the definition.
(to drivel is to talk nonsense)

'verdi composed lines adding finishing touches for the leopard' is the wordplay.
'composed' is an anagram indicator.
'lines' becomes 'll' (two abbreviations for line).
'adding' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'finishing touches for' suggests the final letters (the finishing letters).
The final letters of 'the leopard' are 'ed'.
'verdi' with letters rearranged gives 'drive'.
'drive'+'ll'+'ed'='DRIVELLED'