Music Quote by W. H. Auden

“No opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.”

— W. H. Auden

The trouble with the opera is there's always to much singing.

— Claude Debussy

The idea is not to have one great singer surrounded by a bunch of nit wits. When the others are good, too, that's when…

— Richard Bonynge

In opera, there is always too much singing.

— Claude Debussy

But Opera Man, I go, 'Oh, crap! Why didn't I think of that?' Because I could sing fake opera pretty good.

— Jon Lovitz

Directing an opera is similar to directing a play. The singing must not get in the way of the drama.

— Bruce Beresford

The only thing worse than opera is someone who hums along with opera.

— Josh Lanyon

Opera is music AND drama. I'm prepared to sacrifice the beautiful note for the meaningful sound any time... I can make a pretty tone…

— Beverly Sills

You don't have to make a grand, exaggerated sound to sing opera.

— Andris Nelsons

Any subject is good for opera if the composer feels it so intently he must sing it out.

— Gian Carlo Menotti

The point of opera is that people are moved by the emotions and music.

— Alexander McCall Smith

I had been warned by other directors that opera is hell. The singers don't want to do what you want.

— Robert Lepage