Activity of the Opera Studio under Lviv State Conservatory named after M. V. Lysenko as a training subdivision in 1970–90s.
Authors: Kucher L.I. 
Published: July 2019

Background. This article continues a series of works by the author on the study of the history of educational activities in the field of opera art in Ukraine. On the basis of archival materials, the chronology and features of the educational process in the Opera Studio of the Lviv State Conservatory named after M. V. Lysenko (now the Lviv National Music Academy) are recreated in the important period of formation of the principles of studio working on the education of an opera singer. Relying on his own many years of experience as a teacher and a researcher, the author gives estimates of the role of the departments of solo singing and opera training of the Conservatory involved in the educational process. The material on the history of the Opera Studio performances from its foundation to the end of the last century has been systematized. The results of the study. From the time of the Opera Studio foundation under the Lviv State Conservatory named after M. V. Lysenko, the artistic oversight of this training subdivision was belonging the teachers of the Solo Singing Department. The lack of creative contact between two departments of the vocals faculty, the Solo Singing and the Opera Training Departments, was leading to the shortcomings in education of opera singers. Due to the impossibility to cover all senior students with practical training in performances, they were engaged in fragments of opera in opera classes. To the end of 1973 the separate best pieces of the opera classes was shown several times, using different stages and concert venues. However, O. Hrytsak, who was appointed the Head of the department of Opera Training in the end of academic year 1973–74, resolved that the opera classes will only be focused on junior students of the Conservatory, as per curriculum. With his appointed the new round of Opera Studio’s activity started. Ukraine’s Honored Arts Worker Oleksandr Hrytsak (1924–2001) joined to Opera Training Department in the position of senior lecturer. Prior to joining the Conservatory, O. Hrytsak worked as a conductor in Lviv Opera Theater, where he released tens of opera and ballet performances. He managed to establish a creative atmosphere in the teachers’ team. When educating an actor singer, O. Hrytsak believed his main task is to teach him/her a self-guided work, since no further growth can be possible for a young musician without such a habit. While working at the studio, O. Hrytsak staged the numerous pieces of West European and national classics, having contributed a lot to popularization of modern music (“Anna Snegina” by V. Agafonnikov, “Mususi” by O. Taktakishvili, “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” by K. Molchanov…). In his article entitled “Both Vocalist and Actor” published in “Muzyka”(“Music”) journal (1985, no. 4 ), the author displays his deep knowledge of modern education’s focus on training of actor singers at opera training departments of higher musical schools. His belief that vocals students should not only master a spectrum of vocal and stage skills, but general culture as well, seems relevant to us. O. Grytsak recommended thorough elaboration of “Speech Culture”, “Dance” and “Stage movement” curricula. In 1977, a 5th-year student I. Kushpler (later People’s Artist of Ukraine) was chosen to play the part of Don Giovanni in the opera by W. Mozart. The performance was shown two times during the year with no further shows in the next year. This was a vivid example of how the absence of full-time soloist results in rare demonstration of opera performances of the Studio. It educational practice of Lviv Opera Studio used to happen that working on some performance made it entirely impossible to work on other ones, though it was emphasized that the attainment of high results of operation requires increase in the number of performances. For example, in 1977, during rehearsals of “Ten Days That Shook the World” opera by M. Karminsky, wherein the students’ choir and Opera Studio orchestra participated, no performances were shown of the Studio. Sure, such a practice cannot be deemed a good training. But as early as in academic year 1979–80, at the joint meetings of solo singing and opera training departments, their teachers expresses the opinion that the level of professional training in the Opera Studio grew considerably versus prior years. Fifteen performances were shown during that year, with “Nocturne” by M. Lysenko and “Sotnyk” by M. Verykivsky (conductor O. Hrytsak, director O. Huy) having been renewed. The repertoire continued extending with new pieces – “Zagrava” by A. Kos-Anatolsky, “Mususi” by O. Taktakishvili. Among that period’s prominent interpretations, one can mention the “Iphigenia in Tauris” by K. Stetsenko commemorating its author’s 100th jubilee, with further TV version release (1982). Since 1985, “Zaporozhets za Dunayem”, the opera by S. Hulak-Artemovsky returned to the studio’s repertoire. In 1989, the Opera Studio staged “Kupalo”, opera by A. Vakhnyanin, which is Western Ukraine’s first musical piece based on opera drama principle, as revised by M. Skoryk (conductor O. Hrytsak, stage director F. Strygun). The opera was chosen by the Studio to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ukrainian lands’ reunion and Lviv State Conservatory foundation. The performance was broadcast on Ukrainian radio. Being the leader of talented and experienced experts such as directors V. Dubrovsky, O. Huy, A. Lymerev, choirmaster M. Telishevsky, O. Hrytsak fruitfully conducted the education of young actors. Despite pecuniary burdens, each year the studio staged new performances, in which vocals students acquired their professional experience. He revived the studio’s activity, having tuned up the regular practical training of the vocal department students. Summing it up, it is fair to say that O. Hrytsak’s management of the department allowed boosting discipline and regularity of training of opera singers and revived the Opera Studio under Lviv State Conservatory. However, the lack of material resources (the need for the rental of premises for rehearsals, lack of singer staff for performances etc.) and creative misunderstandings between the departments of the Conservatory engaged in operatic training were becoming the cause of some flaws in the organization of the educating process of the opera singers. In the same time, one cannot but highlight such a positive factor in Lviv Opera Studio activity, as its constant addressing to the heritage of Ukrainian composers.