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 • Oct. 2, 2019

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

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2019

Some of the finalists also performed zarzuela solos. 

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 31, 2014

Before the first zarzuela based on the Chilean miners is staged, someone should think of putting on Adam Guettel's marvellous man-stuck-in-cave musical Floyd Collins.

From The Guardian • Oct. 16, 2010

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 "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall