Letychevska O. Choral art as a constituent of opera performance: L. Venediktov's creative work.

The thesis covers musical and interpretational aspect of choral performance as a way to implement choir's functions in the structure and dramaturgy of opera performance. It specifies the discourse of Ukrainian choral culture in the processes of establishing and development of opera and choral performance in The National Opera of Ukraine (Kyiv opera house). The system of opera choir master's professional working principles has been analyzed through L. Venediktov's creative work - the principal choirmaster (1972-2013). His personal creative approach to the creation of choral team's performing style and shaping of opera performance artistic image have been appraised. The choirmaster's experience in implementing interpretative tasks in opera performances has been studied in terms of L. Venediktov's activity development, determined by objective and subjective aspects of his creative biography. Variant models of the choirmaster's professional working methods in musical and scenic interpretations of opera works by Western-European, Russian, and Ukrainian composers are analyzed through integrated cooperation of the production group (conductor, stage director, and art director).