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: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 192868
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 189455
for: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 128209
for: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 128197
for: Salon orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 128102
for: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 261022
for: Voice (medium), piano
Single edition
Item no.: 166690
for: Salon orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 340758
for: Salon orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 340757
for: Piano
Item no.: 307209
for: Voice (high), piano
Single edition
Item no.: 141549
Bericht über das internationale Symposium anlässlich des 200. Geburtstages von Jacques Offenbach
Beiträge zur Offenbach-Forschung 4
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1678330
Song from "The Land of Smiles"
for: Voice (soprano), concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1668941
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 270965
for: String orchestra
PART ST (4/4/3/2/1)
Item no.: 293846
Walzer aus der Operette "Die lustige Witwe"
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1667957
Kurzfassung
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1633687
Galop infernal aus der Operette "Orpheus in der Unterwelt"
für Piccoloflöte, Oboe und Fagott
for: Piccolo, oboe, bassoon
Score, Parts
Item no.: 662130
for: Salon orchestra
Additional parts
Item no.: 428751
Studienpartitur
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 607648
Klavierpotpourri zum Lubitsch-Stummfilm
for: Piano
Item no.: 370173
Item no.: 613555
Leichte Mischung
for: Electric organ
Music score
Item no.: 127622
für Orchester in kombinierbarer Besetzung
for: Chamber orchestra [flexible ensemble]
Piano score (conductor)
Item no.: 648977
from "The Gipsy Baron"
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 670450
pour voix de soprano
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 141590
aus der Operette "Das Land des Lächelns"
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1023456
Duet from the operetta "The Bat"
for: 2 voices (ST), concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1666537
from the operetta "The Land of Smiles"
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1665590
Aria from "The Land of Smiles"
for: Voice (tenor), concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1665190
Songbook
Item no.: 401882
aus "Orpheus in der Unterwelt"
string trio by Birtel, Band 13
for: Violin, viola, cello (string trio)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 580747
Großen Potpourri aus der Operette
Salon-Orchester
for: Salon orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 133411
Goodmusic Concert Classics
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 557940
for: Voice (tenor), orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 690970
for: Soloist (tenor), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 685445
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 996598
Operette in drei Akten
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SATB), narrator, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1664323
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 685180
for: soloist (T/Bar), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 685178
for: Soloist (tenor), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 685129
for: 2 soloists (ST), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 685125
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 684799
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 893463
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 278410
Lyric book
Item no.: 131489
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 124822