noun. A theatrical production that has many of the musical elements of opera but is lighter and more popular in subject and style and contains spoken dialogue.

noun. A short opera, generally of a light character and so belonging to the class of comic opera or opera bouffe.

noun. A short, light, musical drama.

noun. A lighter version of opera with a frivolous story and spoken dialogue.

noun. a short amusing opera

"Franz Lehár's operetta is the perfect titbit for a financial crisis, as it concerns the fiscal anxieties of a small European state whose entire GDP has ended up in a flighty young widow's jewellery drawer."

bouffe  comic opera  opera bouffe  opera comique  

Barletta  Barretta  Betta  Damietta  Etta  

Arabia  antimasque  arlequin  bouffe  burletta  

Broadway musical  Singspiel  ballad opera  ballet  ballet divertissement