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: Brass ensemble (10 parts); percussion ad lib.
Set of parts
Item no.: 1681420
for: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 444264
for: Voice (high), piano
Item no.: 300589
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 297897
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 155098
for: Piano; voice ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 128202
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir part Soprano
Item no.: 1342545
for: 2 melodic instruments (C/B-flat/C low/E-flat/F)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1797
for: Horn (F), piano
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 1987
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 1986
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir parts (Soprano, Alto)
Item no.: 464799
for: Male choir, piano
Piano score
Item no.: 292214
for: Accordion
Item no.: 222960
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 139926
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score (women voices)
Item no.: 684397
for: 5 woodwinds (quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 246586
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Buch
Item no.: 610552
for: Flute ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 994332
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 583542
for: Salon orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 634472
for: 2 flutes, piano
Partitur und Stimmen
Item no.: 272816
A selection of 40 arias and pieces
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score (anthology)
Item no.: 288143
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 134005
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Item no.: 131219
for: Piano
Item no.: 1111975
Lyric book
Item no.: 624197
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 348301
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir part Tenor
Item no.: 344739
for: Salon orchestra
Item no.: 1111879
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 695292
for: Soloist (mezzo-soprano), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 685164
for: 3 FL ALT-FL
Score, Parts
Item no.: 155780
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 655361
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 675098
for: Mixed choir, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 307853
for: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 307250
for: Piano
Item no.: 283495
for: Mixed choir, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 211620
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 472425
for: 2 pianos
Item no.: 305560
for: Voice (soprano), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 690568
for: Voices, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 690447
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 685176
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 685170
for: Soloist (soprano), women's choir (SS), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 685128
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 685122
for: Concert band
Set of parts
Item no.: 680699
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 112788
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