There were movies that always made me want to be a director. You see brilliant scenes and the way the emotions were handled. I thought, I'd really like to do that.

Quite a few operas are still being commissioned around the world, although nothing apart from audience popularity can ensure more than a few performances.

In my view, the operas of Carlisle Floyd will find a place in the permanent repertoire.

At HBO, they seem to be well-informed. They make what I think are really quite mature films.

The music of the most popular operas is so highly esteemed, it can stand endless revivals.

When we were trying to get the money together for the film, one reason that was consistently given for not investing in it was that everyone kept saying no one could direct it well enough to entertain an audience for 100 minutes essentially watching three people chatting in the kitchen.

For a director, the most challenging scenes are the dialogue scenes.