The art of stage directing and its principles in the opera

The art of stage directing has changed and evolved in the 19th and 20th century especially in working principles, time planning, dramaturgy, form, story telling and political angagement. In this thesis it is aimed to study the life and principles of the people who evolved stage directing and find out their impact on opera stage directing. The Duke of Saxony and Meiningen who was throned at the middle of the 19th century was a passionate art admirer. The touring of Meiningen Theater and Opera to the big art centers of Europe where his concept of art has found the body, made a big impact and started a period of change and development. In this process, great Stage directors like Stanislavski, Meyerhold, Brecht and Grotowski who were in contact, changed the concept, form and idea of stage directing completely. In this thesis; the life, works, working principles and innovations of these stage directors are analysed and their similarities and differences are found out, so that the changes and and revolutions they brought can be better understood. Keywords: Stage directing, opera, dramaturgy, form, story telling.