Operetta is the vital link between Opera and the Musical, it originated in Paris, and became highly popular in London and Vienna. Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore all the wonderful operettas on offer with Stretta Music today!
In Paris in the middle of the 19th century, operetta, which is shorter and lighter than ’serious opera’, developed out of the highly popular opera comique. This new form, consisting of frivolous parodies of bel canto opera and Meyerbeer’s grand opéra, and contemporary society, was first penned by Jacques Offenbach.
In Vienna, news of Offenbach’s success spread quickly, and it inspired composers like Johann Strauss II to take up the call, and the first great Viennese operetta was his “Die Fledermaus”. In contrast to the French can-can, the Viennese operettas are famous for their Waltzes. As the operetta grew in popularity, composers tried to reach the more affluent audience, and operetta soon became less frivolous, and more political, reflecting the rise of nationalism in the country.
In London, 1871, theatre manager Richard D’Oyly Carte, seeing the developments on the continent, brought together the literary and musical talents of W.S Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan, to form the great operetta duo Gilbert & Sullivan. Their operettas were so popular, that ten years later, he built the Savoy Theatre will the sole purpose of producing Gilbert & Sullivan operettas.
In Germany, the Bavarian operettas, and the Berlin operettas were very popular, reaching their high point with Paul Abraham and his “Viktoria und ihr Husar” in 1929. After the National Socialists took power, his extremely successful and popular works were labelled ’degenerate’, and were struck from the repertoire.
Towards the end of the first half of the 20th century, many musicians left Europe for the USA, and they took with them all the joys and experience of operetta, and a new genre was born, the Musical.
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), horn (F), trombone, tuba
Item no.: 401556
for: Male choir (TTBB); piano ad lib.
Piano score
Item no.: 155191
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 137633
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 806941
Overture
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749291
Overture
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 740474
from the opera "Lohengrin”
for: Mixed choir (SABar) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 732565
from the opera "Der Freischütz"
for: Mixed choir (SABar) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 760297
from the operetta "Der Zarewitsch”
for: Mixed choir (SABar) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 760296
from the operetta "Die Fledermaus”
for: Mixed choir (SABar) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 760211
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 134473
for: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 100016
for: Violin, piano
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 337535
for: Salon orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 476957
for: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 337719
for: Piano
Score
Item no.: 418777
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 472246
for: Alto saxophone, keyboard
Sheet music
Item no.: 1930
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Music score (piano accompaniment)
Item no.: 135918
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Piano score
Item no.: 192810
for: Piano
Item no.: 349780
for: Salon orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 329049
for: Accordion
Single edition
Item no.: 220618
for: Accordion orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 126328
for: Accordion orchestra
Item no.: 220610
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 428492
for: 1–2 accordions
Single edition
Item no.: 125766
for: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 128085
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 264410
for: Trumpet (B-flat) [clarinet], piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1714
Overture to the Operetta
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 332508
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 468464
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 685443
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 690577
Score
Item no.: 685145
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 685173
for: Jazz ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 808303
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 768410
Book (Hardcover), CD
Item no.: 580174
for: Piano
Item no.: 356600
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 356592
for: Piano
Item no.: 356591
for: Piano
Item no.: 356340
for: Accordion
Item no.: 288108
for: Violine (Klavier ad libitum)
Item no.: 287973
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 1112022
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 348300