Background: Was born in New York and grew up in Europe. Speaks French, Italian, German and Russian. Is a graduate of Colgate University in Hamilton (New York). Has been a guest lecturer at Harvard and Yale Universities and The Juilliard School. Was Artistic Advisor at San Francisco Opera from 2006-2011. In May 2011, was appointed Artistic Advisor to Washington National Opera. Is currently the Artistic and General Director of Glimmerglass Opera.

Credits: Is an internationally recognised director of opera and theatre whose work has been seen at The Metropolitan Opera New York, Teatro alla Scala, Teatra La Fenice, Bolshoi Theatre, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Munich Staatsoper, Paris Opera, New York City Opera, San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera and English National Opera. Has staged plays and musicals on Broadway, at the Royal National Theatre, BAM, the Guthrie Theater, Vienna’s Raimund Theater, Royal Albert Hall, the Bregenz Festival, Sydney Festival, Disneyland, Berlin’s Theater des Westens and at The Kennedy Center. Most recently developed and directed the world première of Christopher Theofanidis' Heart of a Soldier (San Francisco Opera), directed her production of Aida (Glimmerglass Festival), directed her production of Showboat (Lyric Opera of Chicago), directed La traviata - Opera on Sydney Harbour (Opera Australia).

Awards / Honours: Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (by the French government for her contribution to French culture), Russian Federation's Medal for Service to Culture, Palme d’Or (in Germany), Golden Mask (in Russia), three Olivier Awards (from the London Society of Theatres), two Evening Standard Awards (for Best Musical and Best Opera), two-time recipient of the French Grand Prix des Critiques (for her work at the Paris Opera), Helpmann and Green Room Awards (in Australia).