Christian Sanders

Christian Sanders has been hailed as a “…voice whose color belies his age. Someone to watch!” (Bill Eadie, SanDiego.com). His operatic repertoire encompasses Tom Rakewell in The Rake’s Progress, Albert Herring, Rodolfo in La bohème, Fenton in Falstaff, Laurie in Little Women, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, and Prince Charmant in Cendrillon, as well as a broad range of modern opera and work by living composers. 

Mr. Sanders’ busy 2022-2023 brings several significant engagements: Dorvil in Rossini’s La Scala di Seta, reprising his highly acclaimed Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd with Austin Opera, Loge in Das Rheingold, and Little Bat in Susannah by Carlisle Floyd. Previously,  he made his company debut with Opera Santa Barbara singing The Song Seller in Il tabarro, debuted the role of Wilber in the world premiere of Finding Wright with Dayton Opera, and appeared as the title role in Orpheus in the Underworld with Madison Opera. The 2020-21 season featured his return to Des Moines Metro Opera as Tobais Ragg in Sweeney Todd and Timothy in Fellow Travelers as well as performances as Lloyd the Bartender in The Shining with Minnesota Opera (canceled due to COVID-19).  

As a member of the Utah Opera Resident Artist Program, Christian performed as Il Messaggero in Aïda, Don Curzio in Le nozze di Figaro, Remendado in Carmen, the Padre in Man of La Mancha, Normanno in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Castleman in Beck’s The Long Walk. In addition to these opportunities, Mr. Sanders had the honor of being a part of Des Moines Metro Opera’s Apprentice Artist program. His roles with DMMO include the Novice in Billy Budd and Mr. Erlanson in A Little Night Music in the summer of 2017. Christian joined the Young Artist Program at The Glimmerglass Festival for the 2018 season singing Jonathan Dale in the Pulitzer prize-winning opera Silent Night. He also stepped in as Tony in West Side Story during that same season under the baton of Maestro David Charles Abell. Christian rejoined The Glimmerglass Festival in 2019 to sing Bégearss in The Ghosts of Versailles by Corigliano and sang the same role in November 2019 with Château de Versailles Spectacles in France. Christian joined the Minnesota Opera Resident Artist Program for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons where he sang Bill in Jonathan Dove’s Flight, the Young Servant in Strauss’ Elektra, Prunier in La rondine, and Jonathan Dale in the original production of Kevin Puts’ Silent Night, which was recorded by Pentaton. He has appeared as the Prison Chaplain in the world premiere of Theodore Morrison’s Oscar with the Santa Fe Opera and has sung the title role in The Picture of Dorian Gray at the Aspen Music Festival. 

On the concert stage, Mr. Sanders has been the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Magnificat, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Bruckner’s Te Deum with the Point Loma Choral Union. He recently performed with the Rice Chorale at Rice University in Houston for Schubert’s Mass No. 2 and Orff’s Carmina burana. He has also appeared as a guest soloist with the San Diego Mormon Choir and Orchestra and as the tenor soloist in Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the San Diego Festival Chorus in a live televised concert.