SPIRITUAL OPERA: TO THE QUESTION OF THE ORIGINS OF THE GENRE
The article is devoted to the genesis of the genre of spiritual opera, formed in the works of A.G. Rubinstein. It is shown that the spiritual opera is rooted in theatrical and musical genres of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The author also considers the process of convergence and interaction of the spiritual opera with the oratorio, that played a key role in its development and final formation.