(from Sp. zarza, bramble bush). Spanish light OPERA

characterized by dance and spoken dialogue. The name is derived from the Royal Palace La Zarzuela, near Madrid, where zarzuelas were performed before the royal court.

The genre appeared in the 17th century. Performances of zarzuelas at the court were interspersed with BALLETS and popular dances fashioned after the spectacles at Versailles. With the massive intrusion of Italian opera into Spain in the 18th century, the zarzuela lost its characteristic ethnic flavor. It was revived by nationally minded composers of the second half of the 19th century, particularly Francisco Asenjo Barbieri, Ruperto Chapí, Tomás Bretón y Hernández, Joaquín Valverde, and Federico Chueca. In the early 20th century composers such as Amadeo Vives, Jésus Guridi, José Maria Usandizaga, Moreno Torroba, and Eduardo Toldrá continued composing in a now dying genre.

The modern zarzuela, known as género chico, embodied elements of the Viennese OPERETTA, and still later annexed American JAZZ rhythms. Zarzuelas taking up an entire evening were called zarzuela grande; a zarzuelita is a small zarzuela.

See also TONADILLA.