Choral scenes in the specific activities of the A. V. Nezhdanova Odesa National Academy of Music Opera Studio

Abstract

The article highlights the historical and artistic aspects of the formation and development of choral scenes in the Opera Studio of the A. Nezhdanova Odesa National Academy of Music, emphasizing their significance in shaping the professional mastery of future vocalists and choral conductors. Choral scenes within the structure of the Opera Studio’s productions are considered as a multifunctional phenomenon that combines aesthetic, pedagogical, and per- formance dimensions. They serve not only as an artistic component of the stage action but also as an important form of collective educational and creative practice that ensures the integration of vocal and acting training of students. For the first time, the stages of the evolution of the Studio’s choral practice are systematized – from the early productions of the 20th century to modern experimental forms of stage organization that synthesize academic traditions with contemporary directing concepts. The creative contributions of leading choral conductors of different generations (F. Myronovych, L. Tepliakova, V. Kiosse, A. Pokhylo, L. Butenko, I. Didushok), who defined the artistic and methodological principles of working with the chorus in a training-theatrical environment, are analyzed. It is established that in the 1960s–1990s, the Opera Studio’s choir functioned as a full-fledged performing ensemble whose artistic level approached that of a professional opera theatre. In the post-Soviet period, the choral component acquired flexible chamber forms due to structural changes within the Studio, a reduction in personnel, and a shift in pedagogical orientations. Contemporary tendencies in the adaptation of choral scenes to new educational and stage formats are emphasized, including the instrumental substitution of the chorus, abbreviation of choral parts, chamber reduction of the performing ensemble, and redistribution of choral episodes among small vocal ensembles or soloists. It is concluded that choral scenes in the Opera Studio of the A. Nezhdanova Odesa National Academy of Music remain a crucial factor in preserving and developing Odesa’s vocal and choral traditions. They continue to serve as an effective means of cultivating ensemble thinking and collective performance culture, fostering in students a holistic artistic perception of opera as a synthetic form of musical theatre.