Cristina Bakhoum Sanchez is an American soprano whose performances radiate passion, precision, and profound humanity. Known for her lush, powerful voice and magnetic stage presence, she captivates audiences through a rare combination of vocal brilliance and emotional honesty.
Born to Egyptian and Mexican parents, Cristina’s heritage infuses her artistry with a vibrant cultural sensibility and a natural gift for languages. She approaches every role as both storyteller and interpreter, weaving music, text, and spirit into performances that feel at once timeless and alive.
The 2025 season marks an exciting new chapter. Cristina begins the year as a featured soloist in Amelia Island Opera’s A Night at the Opera, followed by her company debut with Opera Southwest, where she will create the role of Dolores in Héctor Armienta’s world premiere The Farolitos of Christmas—a luminous holiday opera based on Rudolfo Anaya’s cherished tale.
Cristina has brought unforgettable portrayals to stages across the country. As Countess Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro and The Foreign Princess in Rusalka, she revealed both fire and finesse. Her Mimì in La Bohème was hailed as “remarkably expressive… not just for her powerful voice, but for her heartbreaking honesty.” She later reprised the role with First Coast Opera to critical acclaim. Her versatility sparkled as Clementina in The Desert Song, where she brought sass and vigor to the stage.
In contemporary repertoire, Cristina shines as a fearless creator. She originated the role of Roya in Niloufar Nourbakhsh’s We The Innumerable, co-produced by National Sawdust and the Center for Contemporary Opera, a work featured on PBS for its bold storytelling and her “rich-voiced, dramatic, and moving” performance. She also portrayed Kay in the U.S. premiere of Scott Eyerly’s My Life Online and appeared in the first-ever staged production of Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs, directed by Jennifer Williams—a boundary-pushing exploration of immersive opera.
Her extensive repertoire spans Baroque to 21st-century works, including Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Dorabella in Così 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, and title roles in La Périchole, Dido and Aeneas, and Carmen. She has also performed 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.
A passionate advocate for storytelling through music, Cristina brings authenticity, curiosity, and heart to every performance. She holds a Graduate Diploma from the New England Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music from Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Music from Loyola University New Orleans, where she studied under renowned mezzo-soprano Luretta Bybee.
