A style of comedic or humorous opera that is lighthearted and satirical, popular in 19th-century France.
From French 'opéra bouffe,' where 'bouffe' means 'comic' or 'funny,' derived from the verb 'bouffer' (to puff out or act foolishly). It refers to comic opera that parodies serious opera.
Jacques Offenbach revolutionized opera in the 1850s-60s by creating 'opéra bouffe'—silly, tuneful, politically irreverent shows that made fun of serious opera and poked fun at government, which is why some people found them dangerous enough to censor.
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