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

He had gotten his start in this opera as a teenager with his parent’s zarzuela company in Mexico City.

From Los Angeles Times

The titular fugitive in the zarzuela, “El Gato Montés” is fatally persistent in his love for a former girlfriend he returns to reclaim from her now-bullfighter fiancé after many years.

From Los Angeles Times

In opera, and zarzuela counts, it’s not what happens that matters, it’s why.

From Los Angeles Times

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