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burletta

[ber-let-uh]
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noun Theater.

(in the 18th and 19th centuries) a musical drama containing rhymed lyrics and resembling comic opera or a comic play containing songs.

Origin of burletta

1740–50; < Italian, equivalent to burl(a) jest (see burlesque) + -etta -ette
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for burletta

Historical Examples of burletta

  • It may be regarded as a species of prototype of the burletta or ballad opera of later days.

    A Book of Burlesque

    Willam Davenport Adams

  • We move ourselves—they are moved by wires; but we do just the same things—we are life and we are art, in the burletta we are both.

  • Every body liked the Burletta, but none were pleased with the music—which has induced me to reset it.

    Dr. Arne and Rule, Britannia

    William Hayman Cummings