 Here plays began to include musical numbers called "vaudevilles", which were existing popular tunes refitted with new words.In 1715, the two fair theatres were brought under the aegis of an institution called the Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique.In spite of fierce opposition from rival theatres, the venture flourished, and composers were gradually brought in to write original music for the plays, which became the French equivalent of the German Singspiel, because they contained a mixture of arias and spoken dialogue.