Operetta

Operetta (literally, "little opera") is a performance art-form similar to opera, though it generally deals with less serious topics. Often some of the libretto is spoken rather than sung (but this is true of some operas as well). Instead of moving from one musical number (literally so indicated in the scores) to another, the performers in operetta intersperse the musical segments (e. g. aria, recitative, chorus) with periods of dialogue without any singing or musical accompaniment. When music accompanies spoken dialogue for special effect, the result is technically melodrama.

History

The most significant composer of operetta in the German language was the Austrian Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825-1899). His first work in this genre is Indigo und die vierzig Räuber (1871) although it was his third operetta Die Fledermaus (1874) which became the most performed operetta in the world and remained his most popular stage work. In all, he wrote 16 operettas and one opera in his lifetime. Its libretto was based on a comedy written by Offenbach's librettists. In fact, Strauss may have been convinced to write the operetta by Offenbach himself although it is now suggested that his first wife, Henrietta Treffz who repeatedly encouraged Strauss to try his hand at writing for the theater. He went on to write 16 others, mostly with great success when first premiered although now largely forgotten, since his later librettists were not very talented and he worked for some of the time independent of the plot. His operettas, waltzes, polkas, and marches often have a strongly Viennese style and his great popularity has caused many to think of him as the national composer of Austria. In fact, when his stage works were first performed during its day the Theater an der Wien never failed to draw huge crowds for his operetta premieres and many of his numbers were noisily called for encores.

Related Topics:
German - Austrian - Johann Strauss, Jr. - Genre - Indigo und die vierzig Räuber - Die Fledermaus - Henrietta Treffz - Austria - Theater an der Wien

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Franz von Suppé, a contemporary of Strauss, closely modeled his operettas after Offenbach. The Viennese tradition was carried on by Franz Lehár, Oscar Straus, Emmerich Kálmán and Sigmund Romberg in the 20th century.

Related Topics:
Franz von Suppé - Franz Lehár - Oscar Straus - Emmerich Kálmán - Sigmund Romberg - 20th century

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Possibly the height of English-language operetta was reached by W. S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan, who had a long-running musical collaboration in England during the Victorian era. With Gilbert writing the dialogue and lyrics (similar to the libretto of opera) and Sullivan composing the music, the pair produced operettas which were quite popular at the time, and to some degree since. Works such as The Pirates of Penzance continue to enjoy regular performances and even some movie adaptations. The pair of composers are popularly referred to as Gilbert and Sullivan.

Related Topics:
W. S. Gilbert - Sir Arthur Sullivan - England - Victorian era - Libretto - The Pirates of Penzance - Gilbert and Sullivan

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