American soprano Cristina Bakhoum Sanchez is a proven “standout performer” celebrated equally for her “powerful voice” and dynamic character portrayals. 

Bakhoum Sanchez credits her love and natural ear for languages to her Afro-Latina (Egyptian and Mexican) unique background.

Cristina began this season with the US premiere of My Life Online, a comic opera in one act for soprano and pianist composed by Scott Eyerly. Kay, an immigration lawyer, hasn’t left her apartment in over a year. She has virtually and literally shut herself in, however, a crisis involving a child she has never met invokes Kay’s compassion and calls her out of her self-imposed isolation.

Bakhoum Sanchez added two role debuts in the 23-24 season: Countess Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with Mobile Opera and The Foreign Princess in Rusalka with Opera Orlando.

She was seen in Winter Opera St. Louis’ The Desert Song performing the role of sassy Clementina. Later on, Bakhoum Sanchez made her Texas home state debut as a featured soloist in Permian Basin Opera’s Gala.

In 2022, Cristina originated the role of Roya in Niloufar Nourbakhsh’s We The Innumerable co-produced by Center for Contemporary Opera and National Sawdust. This unprecedented show tells the heroic journey of an Iranian woman who protects the truth in the face of state-sanctioned violence. (PBS Featured segment)

Previously, Bakhoum Sanchez performed with Opera Orlando’s production of Rigoletto. She portrayed the role of Giovanna, but with a day’s notice also stepped in to perform Countess Ceprano for all performances.

In 2020, Under the direction of acclaimed director Jennifer Williams, Bakhoum Sanchez starred in the first ever staged production of Richard Strauss’ beloved Four Last Songs (Vier letzte Lieder). Performed in New York City, the interactive, multimedia experience showcased her “exquisite, remarkable talent” and highlighted the future of immersive theater.

Cristina elatedly portrayed Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème with Indianapolis Opera. Her interpretation of Mimì was hailed as “remarkably expressive” (Nuvo Indy’s Alternative Voice). She later reprised the iconic role of Mimì with First Coast Opera in St. Augustine, Florida.  

The versatile singer has performed dozens of roles throughout her career including: Rosina in Rossini’s legendary Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Dorabella in Cosí fan tutte, La Suora Zelatrice in Suor Angelica, Flora in La Traviata, Fermina in Man of la Mancha, Amante in Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse, Pitti-Sing in The Mikado, the title roles in La Périchole, Dido and Aeneas, and Bizet’s Carmen, Amastre in Handel’s Serse, Thelma in Musto’s Later the Same Evening, Annio in La Clemenza di Tito, and Juno in Orpheus in the Underworld. 

Cristina’s notable competitions include Premiere Opera International Vocal Competition, Soma International Foundation Competition, Shreveport Opera Singer of the Year Competition, and Dallas Opera Vocal Competition. In addition, she was a distinguished prizewinner in the Fielder Grant for Vocal Career Advancement. 

She proudly received her Graduate Diploma from the New England Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of renowned Opera singer Luretta Bybee. She holds a Master of Music from Florida State University and Bachelor of Music from Loyola University New Orleans.