Christina Hager has been gaining a solid reputation as a lyric mezzo-soprano with a consistently rich voice and stunning high notes. Widely praised by audiences and critics alike for her “masterful interpretive and communicative abilities….and ability to captivate an audience,” the Wichita Eagle recently called her performance "commanding." Her knowledge and experience in both opera and musical theatre have led her to excel in a range of roles, from the more dramatic Suzuki in Madama Butterfly to the cunning Despina in Così fan tutte, the latter of which she sang with the Shreveport Opera in 2009. Her performance last season of Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro both delighted audiences and showcased her as a “highly accomplished singer.” Her additional appearances last season included Flora in La traviata, as well as covering the role of Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd for Shreveport Opera.

Most recently, Ms. Hager has been re-engaged by Opera New Jersey for a series of highlight concerts where she sings the title role of Carmen. These concerts preview their own production of the opera starring Denyce Graves. Earlier this season, Ms. Hager made her debut with New York's Martha Cardona Opera Project, singing selections of Maddalena in Rigoletto and Zita in Gianni Schicchi in various staged concerts around the city. She then returned to Wichita Grand Opera, where she sang Katisha in their production of The Mikado.

Last season was incredibly busy for Ms. Hager, started with her performance of Dorabella in Così fan tutte, directed with a contemporary spin by the extremely talented John de los Santos. Ms. Hager then revisited the character Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, and made her Wichita Grand Opera debut singing in H.M.S. Pinafore, where she recently returned to cover Amneris in Aida, a role she was invited to then sing with Center City Opera in Feburary of 2009. In March, Ms. Hager returned to Shreveport Opera, where she performed Despina in March of 2009, conducted by Maestro Timothy Long. In April, she joined Skylight Opera as a Resident Artist, where she sang in several concerts of operatic hits and musical theatre favorites. This past summer, Ms. Hager joined Opera New Jersey for their festival season.

Ms. Hager made her New York City debut last December with a concert at the Lincoln Center Library. Additionally, she performed a series of holiday concerts with Opera New Jersey.

Equally at home in the classical repertoire and contemporary opera, she most recently created the role of Sadie in the world premiere of Morning Star, where she worked closely with the composer Ricky Ian Gordon, and was hailed by the composer for her “prowess…dramatic maturity, and specificity not often seen in singers her age.” Ms. Hager has also captured audiences as the Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos, Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Mercedes in Carmen, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, and the title role in Handel’s Rinaldo.

Drawing from a rich well of musical training and stage performance, Ms. Hager’s favorite musical theatre roles include Marguerite in The Scarlet Pimpernel, Smitty in How to Succeed in Business…, Carrie in Carousel, and both Virtue and Charity in Anything Goes. Her versatile training has also led her into the arena of choreography. As resident choreographer for the Shreveport Opera in 2007-2008, recent shows include Carmen and La Traviata, as well as several Broadway reviews in the Ark-La-Tex area in conjunction with the Shreveport Opera.

A native of Kansas City, she has sung with the Kansas City Civic Opera, and performed in numerous musicals with Theatre in the Park and Leawood Stage Company. While completing her Bachelor of Music degree at Texas Christian University, Ms. Hager regularly sang in the Fort Worth Opera Chorus. She went on to receive her Masters of Music at the University of Houston, under the tutelage of renowned tenor Joseph Evans. During her time in Houston, Ms. Hager portrayed the Stewardess in Jonathon Dove’s Flight and the Baroness in Massenet’s Chérubin – both of which were Houston premieres. Additionally, she sang Madama Larina in Eugene Onegin at the Moores Opera Center.

A graduate of Seagle Music Colony, Shreveport Opera’s Resident Artist Program, and Sherrill Milnes’ VoicExperience, she had ample opportunities to showcase her stand-out stage presence, including the roles of the Mother and Witch in Hansel and Gretel, Flora in La traviata, and soloist at Epcot Center in Orlando.

She has had the extreme honor to work closely with numerous mentors, including Jennifer Larmore, Tito Capobianco, Ricky Ian Gordon, and opera icon Sherrill Milnes.

Ms. Hager also specializes in concert repertoire and oratorio work, having sung the alto solos for Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Vivaldi’s, Gloria, Bach’s Magnificat, and Mozart’s Requiem.