Musicology Annotation << Back L. Berio's scenic mass: «passage» to new musical theater lexander S. Ryzhinskiy Article is devoted to «Passaggio» (1961) – well-known musical and scenic composition by L. Berio and E. Sanguineti. Authors use the phrase «scenic mass» for the name of composition’s genre. This name allows to create hints on various secular and spiritual compositions, and also on works of known playwrights and opera composers. The author of article refuses to consider «Passaggio» like a scandalous anti-opera. On the contrary, author’s conclusions testify that the composition is important point on a way from the traditional opera to new Italian musical theater. One of problems is the analysis of the choral texture and vocal timbres: Berio develops Schoenberg’s timbre innovations and thereof avoids habitual sounding of chorus and refuses traditional dramaturgic functions of opera chorus. Keywords: opera, mass, Klangfarben-Übergang, Vulgate, Lucretius, L. Berio, E.Sanguineti, A. Schoenberg, L. Nono. Contacts: E-mail: Loring@list.ru Pp. 03-11.