bouffe
- noun
- /buˈf/
- Specialized
- He enjoyed the light-hearted nature of the bouffe, which included both singing and spoken dialogue.
Examples
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The audience laughed throughout the performance of the lively bouffe with its charming characters.
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In 1918, he sharply attacked Vladimir Mayakovsky's Mystery-Bouffe, a play commissioned by the Commissariat of Enlightenment to mark the first anniversary of the October Revolution.
Academic text (1991) -
The opera bouffe, the grand opera feeling, that he brings to...
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From Wagner opera to opera bouffe
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Since the days of Mystery-Bouffe, Mayakovsky had gone on to become one of the Soviet Union's great poets as well as one of her most ardent propagandists.
Academic text (1991) -
At the theater, the new bouffe featured hilarious moments that left everyone in a good mood.
Synonyms
A short, light stage musical with spoken parts and songs that is often funny
A stage show with singing and spoken lines that is funny and ends happily
A short, funny musical play with singing and a light story
A funny musical play with singing and talking that ends happily
A light, funny Italian opera with lively music
A French musical play with songs, talking parts, and a happy ending
A light German opera that mixes speaking and singing
Compounds
Surface Forms
Etymology
Bouffe comes from the Italian buffa, which means 'comic' and is like the English word buffoon, meaning 'a silly performer'. So bouffe is a light, funny kind of opera with some spoken words and usually a happy ending.