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What opera isn't violent? Two things happen, violence and love. And other than that, name something else. You can't.

'Godfather' was very classical - the way it was shot, the style - the whole driving force of it was more classical, almost Shakespearean.

Opera is where a guy gets stabbed in the back, and instead of dying, he sings.

Well, opera began with an intent to resuscitate Greek drama, that is, modern opera as we know it.

When the music and the characters are flawlessly synchronized, the opera develops an emotional force that movies and plays cannot match.

There was certainly less profanity in the Godfather than in the Sopranos. There was a kind of respect. It's not that I totally agreed with it, but it was a great piece of art.

I think possibly the first film that has music as its leading character.

Opera is the original marriage of words and music, and there's a theatre element, a dramatic element. It's right up my alley.

I don't find much influence in opera. It was such a different part of me.

'The Phantom of the Opera' is about love. It's as simple as that.