Contemporary Music Directing — Innovation or Adventure?
Authors: Shutko Serhii 
Published: March 2022

The author considered the problem of the artistic integrity of the opera in terms of finding ways to renew the musical theater of Ukraine, caused by socio-cultural challenges of today. The article clarifies the fragmentary nature of scientific research on the issue with the priority of musicological aspect and insufficient research of theatrical aspects, which requires a new comprehensive understanding of the director's concept in musical theater.The problem of artistic integrity of opera performance in the conditions of search ways to update the musical theater of Ukraine caused by sociocultural challenges of the present is considered. The article clarifies the fragmentary nature of scientific investigations of the problem with the priority of musicology and insufficient research of theatrical aspects, which requires a new comprehensive understanding of the director's concept in musical theater. The methodology of research key moments of the chosen subject is outlined: modern directorial approaches to creation of artistic integrity of opera performance — structural and functional; the concept of training musical theater directors in the realities of today — systems analysis; vectors of renewal of directorial approaches to the interpretation of works — semiotic. The purpose of the research is formulated — to determine the director's concept of creating the artistic integrity of opera performance in the context of updated synthesis of means of expression of different arts, based on harmonious artistic and research training. The main components of directorial content in solving art work in accordance with the modern possibilities proposed by the theater stage are analyzed. Director's approaches, techniques, means of expression aimed at an organic combination of different arts and achievements of science to find a new synthesis in the embodiment of opera performances are revealed. It is proved that in modern researches of the artistic integrity of the opera performance the mainly musicological aspect is revealed. The analysis of directorial incarnations of operas reflects the achievements of scientific thought at the end of the last century and needs to be reconsidered from the standpoint of the present. The study of directorial interpretations of opera performances in Ukraine makes it possible to state the existence of problems both at the stage of conception and during its implementation, which is due to aesthetic approaches of the end of the last century. The importance of universal training of a musical theater director, able to combine all the components of artistic synthesis into a complete performance with the help of a production team and creative staff, is revealed. Renewal of directorial approaches in the interpretation of operas involves the use of original techniques with the synthesis of traditional and innovative means of expression. The scientific novelty of the research is to establish causal links between integrative artistic and research, research training of the specialist and his ability to produce the latest original ideas in the context of staging. Prospects for further scientific explorations of key aspects of the typology of modern opera directing in the socio-cultural realities of today are predicted.