By ALAN RIDING [NY Times, 27 June 2007]
PARIS, June 27 ó It is no longer thought daring for moviemakers to direct opera. Roman Polanski and William Friedkin first did so some years ago. Anthony Minghella and Michael Haneke tried their hand more recently, and Woody Allen and David Cronenberg will soon have a go. Invariably the idea of opera house managers is to add some screen buzz (and, they hope, draw new audiences) to their standard repertory.