opéra bouffe

[ op-er-uh boof, op-ruh; French aw-pey-ra boof ]

/ ˈɒp ər ə ˈbuf, ˈɒp rə; French ɔ peɪ ra ˈbuf /

a comic opera, especially of farcical character.

Origin of opéra bouffe

Borrowed into English from French around 1865–70

The marchale announced that she was going to the Opera-Bouffe.

The Red and the Black |Stendhal
Offenbach, of opera-bouffe notoriety, almost lived on coffee while creating his dainty aerial music.

Genius in Sunshine and Shadow |Maturin Murray Ballou
Their performances were conducted in the Spanish language, and their specialty was opera-bouffe.

Curiosities of the American Stage |Laurence Hutton
To-day a drama, next week a comedy, opera-bouffe the week after.

Jonathan and His Continent |Max O'Rell

So the night wore on, with more songs and duets from opera and opera-bouffe.

Mount Royal, Volume 3 of 3 |Mary Elizabeth Braddon

opéra bouffe

/ (ˈɒpərə ˈbuːf, French ɔpera buf) /

a type of light or satirical opera common in France during the 19th century

from French: comic opera