opéra comique

American  

[op-er-uh ko-meek, op-ruh, aw-pey-ra kaw-meek] / ˈɒp ər ə kɒˈmik, ˈɒp rə, ɔ peɪ ra kɔˈmik /

noun

opéra comiques, plural opéras comique, plural operas comiques plural

1. comic opera.

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opéra comique British  

/ kɒˈmiːk, ɔpera kɔmik /

noun

1. a type of opera, not necessarily comic, current in France during the 19th century and characterized by spoken dialogue. It originated in satirical parodies of grand opera

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• opéra comiques
  plural
• operas comiques
  plural
• opéras comique
  plural

Etymology

Origin of opéra comique

Borrowed into English from French around 1735–45

Example Sentences

Gaveaux’s setting emphasizes that celebration of domestic bliss, in keeping with the conventions of opéra comique.

From New York Times • Feb. 24, 2017

He had composed his work within the conventions of opéra comique, in which musical numbers are separated by spoken dialogue.

From The Guardian • Jan. 12, 2011

With Grétry the first period of opéra comique may be said to close; indeed, the taste of French audiences had begun to change some years before the close of the eighteenth century.

From The Opera A Sketch of the Development of Opera. With full Descriptions of all Works in the Modern Repertory. by Fuller-Maitland, J. A.

Of the many writers of opéra comique at the beginning of this century, it will be enough to mention two of the most prominent, Nicolo and Boieldieu.

From The Opera A Sketch of the Development of Opera. With full Descriptions of all Works in the Modern Repertory. by Fuller-Maitland, J. A.

To him is largely due the development of opéra comique which has taken place within the last twenty years, a development which has taken it almost to the confines of grand opera.

From The Opera A Sketch of the Development of Opera. With full Descriptions of all Works in the Modern Repertory. by Fuller-Maitland, J. A.