--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Directing an opera is similar to…" description: "\"Directing an opera is similar to directing a play. The singing must not get in the way of the drama.\" — Bruce Beresford" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/bruce-beresford-21063_directing_directing-an-opera-is-similar-to-directi_2779550.jpg" --- # Directing an opera is similar to directing a play. The… ![“Directing an opera is similar to directing a play. The singing must not get in the way of the drama.” quote by Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/bruce-beresford-21063_directing_directing-an-opera-is-similar-to-directi_2779550.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/bruce-beresford-21063_directing_directing-an-opera-is-similar-to-directi_2779550.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/bruce-beresford-21063_directing_directing-an-opera-is-similar-to-directi_2779550.jpg) > “Directing an opera is similar to directing a play. The singing must not get in the way of the drama.” [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Opera and drama share a need for narrative focus; music must support, not dominate, the story. **In simple terms:** Music should serve drama, not overwhelm. Key Takeaway Balance sound and story. Themes artistic balance theatre opera Mood analytical creative Type theatre instructional When to use this quote - stage production - musical theatre - film directing Key Concepts performance studies direction Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize story over spectacle? - What techniques keep music supportive? A Different Perspective Audiences may prioritize spectacle over narrative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Opera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opera/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [In management terms, directing opera certainly prepares you for a film set: the magnitude of it, the experts in other fields that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllida-lloyd/in-management-terms-directing-opera-certainly-prepares-you-for-a-film/) [Phyllida Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllida-lloyd/) > [I am very interested in architecture. I've been asked if I'd ever direct, but me, I'd rather build. It's very similar to directing, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/i-am-very-interested-in-architecture-i-ve-been-asked-if-i-d-ever/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) > [I don't get nervous when I'm directing a play. It's not like acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-don-t-get-nervous-when-i-m-directing-a-play-it-s-not-like-acting/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [Given a choice, I prefer directing a play to a film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/given-a-choice-i-prefer-directing-a-play-to-a-film/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [ It was really interesting to be editing the film \[Trust\] in New York and directing the play in Chicago, and one definitely informed the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/it-was-really-interesting-to-be-editing-the-film-trust-in-new-york/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [I think directing is part play, part work, not just all work, because I think you always have to play. I think that's ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-forster/i-think-directing-is-part-play-part-work-not-just-all-work-because-i/) [Marc Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-forster/) > [Every director is always directing around the play. If you have an actor who really doesn't get the character well enough, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nilo-cruz/every-director-is-always-directing-around-the-play-if-you-have-an/) [Nilo Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nilo-cruz/) > [I would consider directing. I think directing myself would be tough, but I'm definitely interested in directing. I might start off directing a play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/i-would-consider-directing-i-think-directing-myself-would-be-tough/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [The number of opera houses around the world and the high attendance rates show that opera an art form that is more popular than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/the-number-of-opera-houses-around-the-world-and-the-high-attendance/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [Quite a few operas are still being commissioned around the world, although nothing apart from audience popularity can ensure more than a few performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/quite-a-few-operas-are-still-being-commissioned-around-the-world/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [In opera, everyone's watching from a fixed viewpoint, and that really challenges you. Lighting, the sets, stage groupings, the music-but doesn't relate too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/in-opera-everyone-s-watching-from-a-fixed-viewpoint-and-that-really/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [I took on the role of CEO, which involves directing the Management Team and overall day-to-day operations of 500.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/i-took-on-the-role-of-ceo-which-involves-directing-the-management/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [That's what I learned most about directing on my own - you've got to build a family, a filmmaking family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/that-s-what-i-learned-most-about-directing-on-my-own-you-ve-got-to/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it's not an art. The main thing about directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/anybody-can-direct-a-picture-once-they-know-the-fundamentals/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) ## More by Bruce Beresford > [In opera, everyone's watching from a fixed viewpoint, and that really challenges you. Lighting, the sets, stage groupings, the music-but doesn't relate too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/in-opera-everyone-s-watching-from-a-fixed-viewpoint-and-that-really/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [There were movies that always made me want to be a director. You see brilliant scenes and the way the emotions were handled. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/there-were-movies-that-always-made-me-want-to-be-a-director-you-see/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [The number of opera houses around the world and the high attendance rates show that opera an art form that is more popular than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/the-number-of-opera-houses-around-the-world-and-the-high-attendance/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [When we were trying to get the money for Driving Miss Daisy, everyone kept saying no one could direct it well enough to entertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/when-we-were-trying-to-get-the-money-for-driving-miss-daisy-everyone/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [I didn't get upset because I wasn't nominated, but I was a little surprised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/i-didn-t-get-upset-because-i-wasn-t-nominated-but-i-was-a-little/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [Quite a few operas are still being commissioned around the world, although nothing apart from audience popularity can ensure more than a few performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/quite-a-few-operas-are-still-being-commissioned-around-the-world/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [Film is shot in fragments, and the same moments can be shot again and again until the director is satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/film-is-shot-in-fragments-and-the-same-moments-can-be-shot-again-and/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [It is essential to do everything possible to attract young people to opera so they can see that it is not some antiquated art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/it-is-essential-to-do-everything-possible-to-attract-young-people-to/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [I don't rehearse films as much as opera or theatre. When I began directing films I thought a long rehearsal was a good idea.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/i-don-t-rehearse-films-as-much-as-opera-or-theatre-when-i-began/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [It's not enough to hit the notes. There is no point in the singers just standing there and sounding wonderful if they're not connecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/it-s-not-enough-to-hit-the-notes-there-is-no-point-in-the-singers/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [When the music and the characters are flawlessly synchronized, the opera develops an emotional force that movies and plays cannot match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/when-the-music-and-the-characters-are-flawlessly-synchronized-the/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [On stage, the audience watches from a fixed viewpoint and the director cannot retake something he doesn't like. It has to work straight through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/on-stage-the-audience-watches-from-a-fixed-viewpoint-and-the-director/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [With a film, I do my best to understand the author's intentions and try to bring the characters to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/with-a-film-i-do-my-best-to-understand-the-author-s-intentions-and/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [With Cold Sassy Tree having its first production, I saw no necessity to do anything other than produce it with the correct setting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/with-cold-sassy-tree-having-its-first-production-i-saw-no-necessity/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [He's wrong. That's why his films look so terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/he-s-wrong-that-s-why-his-films-look-so-terrible/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) [Explore all 30 Bruce Beresford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) ## More Directing quotes > [Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it's not an art. The main thing about directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/anybody-can-direct-a-picture-once-they-know-the-fundamentals/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [That's what I learned most about directing on my own - you've got to build a family, a filmmaking family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/that-s-what-i-learned-most-about-directing-on-my-own-you-ve-got-to/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I took on the role of CEO, which involves directing the Management Team and overall day-to-day operations of 500.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/i-took-on-the-role-of-ceo-which-involves-directing-the-management/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [When I see my movies on the editing table, I do think I could have done them a certain way. The satisfaction is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/when-i-see-my-movies-on-the-editing-table-i-do-think-i-could-have/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [For me the dream is the freedom to make all the crazy ideas I have in my head into movies. I truly love directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-ozeki/for-me-the-dream-is-the-freedom-to-make-all-the-crazy-ideas-i-have-in/) [Nicholas Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-ozeki/) > [The producing thing has come quite naturally to me. I feel like for directing, I would like to be more technically-savvy. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/the-producing-thing-has-come-quite-naturally-to-me-i-feel-like-for/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I'm addicted to directing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-shankman/i-m-addicted-to-directing/) [Adam Shankman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-shankman/) > [Making a movie and not directing the little moments is like drinking a soda and leaving the little slurp puddle for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/making-a-movie-and-not-directing-the-little-moments-is-like-drinking/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Directing films is easier said than done. The job needs a lot of sensibility to put many things in place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-sethupathi/directing-films-is-easier-said-than-done-the-job-needs-a-lot-of/) [Vijay Sethupathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-sethupathi/) > [I starred in a Broadway play that was Sidney Poitier's first directing job and the cast was Lou Gossett, Cicely Tyson, Diana Ladd and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-starred-in-a-broadway-play-that-was-sidney-poitier-s-first/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I don't get nervous when I'm directing a play. It's not like acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-don-t-get-nervous-when-i-m-directing-a-play-it-s-not-like-acting/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [My dad's a prominent theatre director in Toronto, so I grew up in that world, directing and producing theater since I was a teenager.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gass-donnelly/my-dad-s-a-prominent-theatre-director-in-toronto-so-i-grew-up-in-that/) [Ed Gass-Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gass-donnelly/) > [The hardest part about directing is getting everyone on the same page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/the-hardest-part-about-directing-is-getting-everyone-on-the-same-page/) [Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/) Browse all 1,163 Directing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Directing an opera is similar to directing a play. 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