North American director Crystal Manich, directing her second production with Pinchgut, has been hailed by the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other major publications for “lively” and “imaginative staging” and has been especially lauded for her interpretations of 17th and 18th century operatic repertoire.

She directs regularly for Buenos Aires Lírica in Argentina in addition to various companies in the USA including Pittsburgh Opera, The Kennedy Center, Boston Lyric Opera, Tulsa Opera, American Opera Projects, Utah Opera, Opera Omaha, Arizona Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Opera Columbus, North Carolina Opera, Opera Roanoke, and Lyric Opera Baltimore. Recent highlights: Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas; Handel’s Riccardo Primo; Ernani in Buenos Aires; The Cunning Little Vixen. Crystal is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania.

Crystal directed Haydn's Armida for Pinchgut Opera in June 2016. Crystal will direct the 2017 mid year triple bill Rameau: Anacréon & Pigmalion.