“There cannot be enough said about the effectiveness of Kathleen Smith Belcher’s stage direction. In her Sarasota Opera debut, this veteran of the Met and other major stages of the opera world, added a new level of entertainment excellence for us to enjoy. At no point was a character simply existing on stage. Everyone’s actions had a meaning, and sometimes several layers. Did I catch an insider’s reference to "Aida" in Despina’s crossed arm pose on top of the chair at the beginning of Act II?” -Sarasota Herald-Tribune
