1. Śuvre musicale semblable ŕ un opéra mais qui n'est pas formée de bout en bout d'airs ou de récitatifs (dialogues possibles).
2. Théâtre oů se donnent ces oeuvres.
Opera with a happy ending and in which some of the text is spoken; SYN. opera bouffe, bouffe, opera comique.
Opera that includes text to be spoken, not sung; Bizet’s Carmen is an example. Of the two Paris opera houses in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Opéra (which aimed at setting a grand style) allowed no spoken dialogue, whereas the Opéra Comique did.