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.
Terzett aus der Operette "The Mikado or the Town of Titipu"
for: Women's choir (SAA) [3 solo voices], piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1977
aus der Operette 'Der Zarewitsch'
für Gesang und Klavier
for: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 666953
für hohe Singstimme und Klavier
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Music score
Item no.: 244177
aus der Operette 'Giuditta'
für Gesang und Klavier
for: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 666267
10 berühmte Lieder aus der Operette
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 102854
Zarzuela
for: Voice (baritone), piano
Book
Item no.: 301244
Komische Oper in 3 Akten
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 281948
The Walsh Collection
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1196984
Lied (Paganini), Nr. 9 aus der Operette "Paganini"
for: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 667079
Vocal Score
for: Voice
Piano reduction
Item no.: 318153
Kontrabass ad lib.
Wiener Melange
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 654899
C
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1026085
A Comic Opera in three acts
Kalmus Classic Edition
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 603586
für Bariton und Klavier
for: Voice (baritone), piano
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 611042
or 'The Town of Titipu'
This score includes the complete music and all dialogue.
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 318139
Operette
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 666662
Complete Original Music for 38 Songs from 14 Operettas
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 184208
An Operetta in One Act
for: Solo voices, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 929289
from ‘The Gondoliers’
for: Voice, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 722661
Deutsch/Englische Ausgabe des Liedes "Sei nicht bös'" aus der Operette 'Der Obersteiger'/ "The Miller's Daughter"
for: Voice (medium), piano
Music score
Item no.: 643235
from ‘Patience’
for: Voice, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 732172
G
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1028659
Eb
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1026277
from ‘The Yeomen of the Guard’
for: Voice, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 722662
from ‘The Pirates of Penzance’
for: Voice, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 722664
C
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1026072
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 894567
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 871178
F
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1025324
POD
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 997271
from ‘Utopia Limited’
for: Voice, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 722665
C
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1025958
from ‘The Sorcerer’
for: Voice, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 759307
from ‘The Mikado’
for: Voice, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 722660
Eb
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1026298
Gm
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1035550
or 'The Town of Titipu'
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 214614
aus "Der Opernball"
for: Voice (low), piano
Music score
Item no.: 199818
Eb
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1026070
Operette in drei Akten
Miniatur-Klavierauszug
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 306791
F
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1031011
C
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1026071
from ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’
for: Voice, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 722663
C
for: Voice, guitar
Melody/Lyrics/Chords
Item no.: 1052201
Gm
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1050124
from ‘Princess Ida’
for: Voice, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 722666
from ‘The Pirates of Penzance’
for: Voice, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 732171
20 Sad, Happy and Humorous Songs from the World of the Victorian Operetta
for: Voice, piano
Ensemble score
Item no.: 759308
from ‘Ruddigore’
for: Voice, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 732173
from ‘Ruddigore’
for: Voice, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 738428