Derivation of Russian comic opera origin and formation of last third XVIII century in the close link with folk song learning

The present article is dedicated to the derivation of the comic opera development in Russia; the background of this genre origin is analyzed due to the intense interest and research of folk song, poetics, folk traditions in the second part of XVIII century. The analysis of the first folk songs collection, widely used by composers and librettists of the last third of XVIII century in comic opera performances, is given.