A short, light musical drama with spoken dialogue, music, and often humorous or romantic storylines.
From Italian 'operetta' (little opera), a diminutive of 'opera.' Developed in the 19th century as a lighter, shorter alternative to grand opera with spoken dialogue.
Operetta was essentially the musical theater/Broadway of the 1800s—composers like Gilbert and Sullivan made operetta into an art form that was wildly popular with regular people, not just the wealthy, which is why it spread across Europe and America.
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