УДК: 791.43-293

DOI: 10.35852/2588-0144-2025-4-202-218

EDN: JHSHXY

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Tatiana K. Egorova

D. Sc. in Art Studies, Leading Researcher of the Scientific Department
Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS)
Moscow, Russia
E-mail: vistaa@bk.ru

Film and Opera: Difficulties of Translation

Abstract

The article is the first attempt to generalize, characterize and systematize the nowadays major trends in the relationship between cinema and opera, taking into account the existing historical experience and the latest trends of this process. The purpose of the work is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of various formats of opera and cinema communication, that is, “translation difficulties”, which can explaing the reasons for the internal attraction of the two arts, as well as the causes of sudden bursts of activity and prolonged pauses in contacts. The problems that both the directors and the audience constantly have to face when adapting opera to the language of the screen often come up against the discrepancy in the levels of vocal and acting skills of opera singers, as well as their typical conformity to the images of their characters, mastery of the basic principles of the K.S. Stanislavsky system — the principle of vital truth and the principle of creative transformation. The article also examines the advantages and disadvantages of techniques widely used in the genre of film opera, known as “double composition technique” and “mixed composition technique”, which currently largely determine the future prospects and trends in the development of the relationship between cinema and opera.

Keywords

Movie opera, film-opera, Opera HD, Opera Live, broadcast communication, film adaptation.

For citation

EgorovaT.K. Film and Opera: Difficulties of Translation. Theatre. Fine Arts. Movie. Music. 2025, no. 4, pp. 202–218.

DOI: 10.35852/2588-0144-2025-4-202-218

EDN JHSHXY

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Received: 19.09.2025

Revised: 02.11.2025

Accepted: 14.11.2025