noun

• A short opera, usually on a light or humorous theme and typically having spoken dialogue. Notable composers of operettas include Offenbach, Johann Strauss, Lehár, and Gilbert and Sullivan.

  ‘She has performed in many operas, operettas, musicals and oratorios.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘The Pirates of Penzance is one of those enduring operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan, the subject matter of which doesn't matter a hoot.’
  • ‘Apart from the brilliant success of Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas, a true native style is difficult to identify.’
  • ‘Starting with the semi-operas of the Restoration there have been several hundred reworkings of Shakespeare's plays into operas, operettas, and musicals.’
  • ‘His repertoire on discs included excerpts from operas and operettas, popular songs, and later, songs from his films.’
  • ‘The Strauss operettas on the next two-CD set are even farther from what the composer intended.’
  • ‘He produced not only popular operettas, but incidental music to plays and (according to the custom of the time) interpolations into other operas as well.’
  • ‘He wrote songs, operas, and operettas, pantomimes, melodramas, and in 1823, a History of Music.’
  • ‘Atonal music, the Italian opera style, the operetta and the paintings of Impressionism are also Jewish.’
  • ‘In 1878 Aleko began his studies in Russia, and at the same time started to publish his first poems, and to write plays, compose music and a short operetta.’
  • ‘And next year we are beginning a new departure, and that is to include operetta and musicals in every season, something I have always wanted to encourage.’
  • ‘This included a chapel, bedrooms, parlours, and a dining area together with a hall where operettas, plays and musicals are produced annually.’
  • ‘Opera, operetta, oratorio, and song all are represented, both in English and in the original languages.’
  • ‘It seems to confirm what we always suspected - that Austrian wine, like Strauss operettas, is frivolous and irresponsible and only for swigging by the jugful.’
  • ‘Meanwhile, the English-language opera tradition evolved to incorporate operettas and musical theater.’
  • ‘Her early career was devoted to performing zarzuelas, the operettas of her homeland.’
  • ‘He continued to write operettas and finally realised his long-standing intention, to compose an Irish operetta.’
  • ‘In many cases, well-qualified songs from musicals, operettas, vaudeville, and revues, as well as variety shows, music hall, and cafe concert, were recruited for use in cabarets.’
  • ‘She played it to the hilt as an over-inebriated soprano trying to sing in an operetta.’
  • ‘This concert featured two singers in solos and a few duets from operettas by Austrian and Hungarian composers.’