Debates and studies on the origins of the opera

The article is dedicated to the interplay of liturgical, folk and secular elements heading toward the birth of the opera. Its' study gives objective appraisal of the rise of the new art and explains synthetic essence of the opera. Theatre researchers have been making numerous attempts to prove the leading position of certain element in the course of opera-making, among them Romain Rolland's, Robert Donington's and Jeremy Ioffe's works are of particular importance. A development of vocal polyphony,musical as well as theatrical setting of a divine service, various efforts to revive ancient tragedy and acute theatre practitioners' achievements must be taken into account. Their complex comprehension gives much more than the origins of a sole art but background of Renaissance culture itself.