Get to Know the Sarasota Opera: Lee Poulis

Tall, dark and handsome, Harvard graduate Lee Poulis is serious about three things: opera, food and the law. I had the privilege of attending a performance of Lucia Di Lammermoor at the Sarasota Opera House on Thursday, Feb. 23, and Lee’s incredibly commanding performance (as Lucia’s cruel and selfish brother Enrico) was one of the reasons that I was riveted to my seat and---at the end of an emotionally arresting three hours---left wanting more …

Dining Diva: Where are you from?

Lee Poulis: Long Island, N.Y. and now I live in Central Harlem.

DD: What is your favorite food from home?

LP: Spanikopita---I am one-half Greek and my family makes really delicious spanikopita (spinach and feta pie).

DD: What’s your favorite restaurant?

LP: Currently it’s Bocca di Bacco in Hell’s Kitchen, but I used to enjoy Mama Mexico before it went out of business.

DD: Where would you like to travel that you have not been?

LP: I think Thailand with its incredible foliage would be beautiful to see (he grins slyly), but I will probably stay out of Bangkok thanks to The Hangover II.

DD: What are your favorite places in Sarasota?

LP: I love to walk near the water at Lido Beach and the white sand at Siesta Beach. My favorite restaurant in Sarasota is Owen’s Fish Camp in Burns Court.

DD: What profession other than opera singer would you like to attempt?

LP: I am very detail-oriented and I like to write, so I would be very interested in being a lawyer.

DD: What kind of music do you listen to?

LP: I love Opera music, I tend to tune into classical stations and I am a fan of the trumpet.

There is a scene in Lucia di Lammermoor in which Lucia and her brother Enrico are singing over and under each other in a complicated musical conversation/confrontation. Lee Poulis and Kathleen Kim did this so masterfully and with such passion that I was left feeling breathless and in awe. I highly recommend that you treat yourself to this experience as soon as possible.