American soprano Cristina Bakhoum Sanchez is a versatile performer whose artistry bridges beloved operatic classics and compelling contemporary works. Known for her richly expressive voice and magnetic stage presence, she brings emotional honesty, dramatic nuance, and musical insight to every role.
Born to Egyptian and Mexican parents, Cristina’s heritage informs her artistry with a unique cultural perspective and a natural gift for languages, enriching her interpretations across a diverse range of repertoire.
The 2026–2027 season finds Cristina in a series of exciting returns and role debuts. She returns to First Coast Opera to perform Lieschen in J.S. Bach’s Coffee Cantata and the title role in Donizetti’s rarely performed Rita. She then rejoins Opera Southwest to reprise the role of Dolores in Héctor Armienta’s The Farolitos of Christmas. In the new year, she again stars in the title role of Rita with Mobile Opera before making her role debut as Magali in Daniel Catán’s Salsipuedes with Opera Southwest.
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.” Her versatility also shone as Clementina in The Desert Song, where she brought wit, charm, and vitality to the stage.
In contemporary repertoire, Cristina has distinguished herself 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 made her Opera Southwest debut creating the role of Dolores in Héctor Armienta’s world premiere The Farolitos of Christmas, returning the following season to reprise the role. She also portrayed Kay in the U.S. premiere of Scott Eyerly’s My Life Online and appeared in the first staged production of Richard Strauss’s Vier letzte Lieder, directed by Jennifer Williams - a boundary-pushing exploration of immersive opera.
Her repertoire spans Baroque through 21st-century works, with roles including Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, and the title roles in La Périchole, Dido and Aeneas, Carmen, and Rita.
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.
