zarzuela

American  

[zahr-zwey-luh, -zwee-, thahr-thwe-lah, sahr-swe-] / zɑrˈzweɪ lə, -ˈzwi-, θɑrˈθwɛ lɑ, sɑrˈswɛ- /

noun

PLURAL

zarzuelas

1. a Spanish opera having spoken dialogue and often a satirically treated, topical theme.

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zarzuela British  

/ zɑːˈzweɪlə /

noun

1. a type of Spanish vaudeville or operetta, usually satirical in nature

2. a seafood stew

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Etymology

Origin of zarzuela

1885–90; < Spanish, after La Zarzuela, palace near Madrid where first performance took place (1629)

Example Sentences

The habanera’s strict dotted 3 + 1 pattern was handed down to the Spanish zarzuela, the Cuban danzon, the Brazilian maxixe and the Argentinian and Uruguayan tango.

From Literature

Mr. Capasso said it would be part of a new series, Ópera en Español, that will aim to engage New York’s Spanish-speaking audience by offering zarzuelas and other operas in Spanish in future seasons.

From New York Times

One zarzuela represents a rheumatic old aficionado, or devotee of the sport, trying, with ludicrous results, to screw his courage to the point of facing the bull.

From Project Gutenberg

The young man, aged fifteen months, gave them, without being conscious of it, more enjoyment than all the tenors of the opera and the zarzuela combined.

From Project Gutenberg

The Spanish zarzuela appears to have been the forerunner and origin of all musical farce and "opera comique," only naturalised in our country during the present generation.

From Project Gutenberg