opéra comique

[ op-er-uh ko-meek, op-ruh; French aw-pey-ra kaw-meek ]

noun

, plural o·pé·ra co·miques, o·pé·ras co·mique, French o·pe·ras co·miques [aw-pey-, r, a, kaw-, meek].

1. comic opera.

opéra comique

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of opéra comique¹

Borrowed into English from French around 1735–45

Example Sentences

“It’s the last major project of my life,” he said of his job with the Opéra Comique.

From New York Times

All this, as he settles into his new job as the leader — not the conductor — of the Opéra Comique in Paris.

From New York Times

Langrée moved to Paris once he started at the Opéra Comique, and when he is working in the United States, his day begins early, with about three hours of meetings before rehearsal starts.

From New York Times

That year, he was hired by President Emmanuel Macron of France to run the Opéra Comique; it was, Langrée said, the first job he had ever applied for.

From New York Times

She was a Scottish-born soprano who moved to the United States in the late 19th century, joined the Opéra Comique in Paris in 1900 and premiered the role of Mélisande in “Pelléas et Mélisande,” the only opera that Debussy ever completed.

From New York Times