Operetta
A light form of opera featuring spoken dialogue interspersed with songs, dances, and orchestral music, typically with romantic plots and happy endings. Operetta bridges the gap between opera and musical theatre. Gilbert and Sullivan's works (The Mikado, HMS Pinafore) and Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus are classic examples. Operetta's influence on the development of the modern musical is profound—it established many of the conventions musical theatre still uses.
