A method, and an apparatus, for operating a hydraulic shearing machine. For cutting a shearing-movement of at least one shear blade which is curved, starting from a starting-position under application of an overall actuating-force and for resetting of the shear blades which were moved for cutting to their starting-position after accomplishment of the shearing-movement, a reset-movement under application of an overall reset-force. The shearing-movement and the reset-movement are accomplished by a hydraulic actuating-mechanism comprising hydraulic cylinders, wherein the overall actuating-force and the overall reset-force being applied to the moved shear blades by at least one hydraulic cylinder of the actuating-mechanism. The magnitude of the overall actuating-force is adjustable by switching one or several hydraulic cylinders of the actuating-mechanism in and out of operation-mode. The method proposes that the positions of the curved shear blade are controlled by a control system by regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinders according to setpoints for a shear blade position versus time function and the overall actuating-force and overall reset-force requirements.