Definitions for "Operetta"
Keywords:  opera, dialogue, spoken, strauss, merry
A short, light, musical drama.
Italian for 'little work' there is no exact definition of the term operetta. It describes a musical stage work in lighter operatic style, usually with spoken dialogue and nearly always of a comic nature. A great deal of musical snobbery exists on the subject of operetta. Many people think because it's light in style it's light in quality. The masters of the genre were Lehár, Offenbach and Strauss II.
A lighthearted opera with spoken dialogue, much like a musical.