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.
The Desert Song
for: Piano/Vocal/Chords
Item no.: 1529582
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
aus "Der Zigeunerbaron"
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 131713
Ouvertüre
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 102209
for: Piano/Vocal/Chords
Item no.: 1364308
for: Piano/Vocal/Chords
Item no.: 1362455
for: Piano/Vocal/Chords
Item no.: 1365224
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: Salon orchestra
Piano score (conductor)
Item no.: 294511
for: Symphonic orchestra
Additional parts
Item no.: 326256
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 735687
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Item no.: 356730
Lyric book
Item no.: 128216
for: Piano
Item no.: 282866
for: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 307280
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 307251
for: Voice (low), piano
Item no.: 246887
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 996598
Single edition
Item no.: 283510
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra [piano]
Piano reduction
Item no.: 184588
for: Piano
Item no.: 413393
Ouverture für Orchester
for: Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 732930
Operette in drei Akten
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SATB), narrator, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1664323
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 220107
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: Children's choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 231299
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 893463
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 258316
for: Fanfare
Score
Item no.: 1182059
for: Accordion
Sheet music
Item no.: 1929
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, Solo part (pdf download)
Item no.: 1748
for: Accordion
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 466662
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Item no.: 356732
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 278410
for: Accordion
Item no.: 108446