Wang L. Opera plotology as a subject of modern musicology

The thesis reveals the content and significance of opera plotology as a synthetic art-genre and inherent musical phenomenon, and proposes the study of historical prerequisites and theoretical-conceptual foundations of opera plotology as a separate subject area of modern musicology. Inter-disciplinary trends and general theoretical factors of plotology are determined, interaction of phenomena of theme, plot and image in opera art is revealed, corresponding conceptual positions are clarified. A typological aesthetic approach to opera plot is developed, typological criteria for studying thematic opera content are formed. The coverage of the story varieties of the historical theme in the opera based on European opera creativity from the Baroque period to the Romantic era allows to bring to the fore the aesthetic and compositional features of Italian opera as a generalized genre phenomenon, which gradually increases its artistic and systemic potential. Identification of plot modifications of the topic of personal fate in opera poetry provides special consideration of the phenomenon of operability and character in their comparison and artistic-compositional unity. The methodical significance of the category of musical plotology in its connection with the typology of opera content is proved, the principles of building a holistic artistic composition of the opera are revealed. Musical-story ways of representing the image of a person in opera work are determined.