“Finally, in Juliana Hall’s “A World Turned Upside Down,” taken from the diary of Anne Frank, the immortal teenager’s slender voice is shrouded by global catastrophe. It begins with the gleeful giggles of a 13-year-old, and Cristina Maria Castro’s soprano seems to grow up as the entries get more somber and the sense of claustrophobia and doom overtakes the young author.” (Dec. 28, 2020)
About
A San Antonio, TX native who’s still very much in touch with her Puerto Rican roots, Cristina María Castro is a sought-after performer equally at home in the worlds of both classical music and musical theatre. She is also happy to embark in on-camera adventures with her recent Network TV debut in Law & Order: SVU! Her 2023 season includes Monica in La Médium (a new Spanish—language translation of the Menotti classic) with Fort Worth Opera, Guan Yin in Monkey: A Kung Fu Puppet Parable with White Snake Projects, and La Decimista Soprano in El Oratorio Panhispánico with Music at Co-Cath. All three performances are world-premieres.
An avid champion of new music, Cristina María has had the honor of originating and creating three roles: Mrs. D in Howie D: Back in the Day (Yup. Cristina María did indeed meet and perform with Backstreet Boy, Howie D! Dreams do come true!), Cristina María in Local Opera Local Artists’ opera pastiche, We Might be Struck by Lightning, and Catherine in a New York Theatre Festival new musical, Bright is the Ring of Words. She has also workshopped many compositions in Frontiers with the Fort Worth Opera Festival. Other favorite roles performed include Toledo in The Falling and the Rising with Intermountain Opera Bozeman, Maria in West Side Story, Aldonza in The Man of La Mancha, and Despina in Cosi fan tutte.
Castro enjoys serving as the Associate Creative Director of MACC (Music at Co-Cath) where she curates awe-inspiring and multicultural sacred music concert-plus experiences. Follow Cristina María’s adventures both on and offstage @cristinamaria_castro.
Reviews
“Finally, in Juliana Hall’s “A World Turned Upside Down,” taken from the diary of Anne Frank, the immortal teenager’s slender voice is shrouded by global catastrophe. It begins with the gleeful giggles of a 13-year-old, and Cristina María Castro’s soprano seems to grow up as the entries get more somber and the sense of claustrophobia and doom overtakes the young author.” (Dec. 28, 2020)
— Heidi Waleson, The Wall Street Journal
“Ms. Hall’s “A World Turned Upside Down” takes its title from the diary of Anne Frank, its patterned-fabric cover and scrapbook spirit replicated here, with the libretto’s English text interspersed throughout. These seven songs, for soprano (Cristina María Castro) and piano, are deferential to the surface emotions and ideas of Frank’s writing, to the point of literal-mindedness. Effervescent music accompanies notes on her birthday; dissonance, jittery trills and suspenseful pauses are an obvious analogue for an entry about footsteps in the night.” (Nov. 25, 2020)
— Joshua Barone, The New York Times
“His mother, Mrs. D. (Cristina María Castro), exudes encompassing love as she acts as intermediary between father and son.” (Feb. 1, 2020)
— Christine Swerczek, Broadway World
“As Monica, soprano Cristina María Castro invested her role with pathos and ambivalence.”
“Ms. Castro's shining soprano was lovely in "Monica's Waltz" and in the soothing song she sings to calm her anxious mother--"The Black Swan".” (Nov. 1, 2019)