Biography

Praised for her “shimmering vocals with pitch perfect intonation” and “ringing high notes” (Opera Canada), Christina Thanisch-Smith is quickly gaining praise in the Canadian music scene. Born in Fredericton and raised in Winnipeg, the Canadian/German soprano is currently a McPhee Artist with Calgary Opera. This season, she made her main-stage debut as Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore, and sang Beauty in Giannini’s Beauty & The Beast. During her performances as Beauty, she was featured as Opera Canada’s Artist of the Week. She also performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra as a finalist for the McLellan Compeition in April. Christina is delighted to return to Calgary Opera this fall where she will sing the role of Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. During her summer season, she will be an Artist in Residence with Brott Opera Festival and the Toronto Summer Music Festival, respectively.

In 2023, she completed her graduate studies at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, where she performed the titular roles in Poulenc’s Les mamelles de Tirésias and Handel’s Partenope, respectively, and additionally made her Maison Symphonique debut as soloist for Mahler’s Symphony no. 4.

Christina was a member of Les Jeunes Ambasadeurs Lyriques for the 2022-23 season, was selected for the Opéra de Montréal Talent Gala, made her debut with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra as soloist for Handel’s Messiah, and bowed as Eurydice in Manitoba Underground Opera’s production of Orphée et Eurydice, all while embarking on trips to the United States, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

When not singing operatic repertoire, Christina is happy to live in the world of song and chamber music. While studying at the Franz-Schubert-Institut, Christina worked closely with Elly Ameling, Helmut Deutsch, Birgid Steinberger, Robert Vignoles, Julius Drake, Andreas Schmidt, Wolfram Rieger, and Robert Holl, refining her interpretation of the German Lied. As a singer for the McGill-Université de Montréal Piano-Vocal Accompaniment Residency, she has sung for renewed pianists and singers such as James Vaughn (La Scala), Graham Johnson, Jeff Cohen, and Francois Le Roux. This summer, she had the opportunity to work closely with Dame Sarah Connolly and Joseph Middleton as a Song Fellow at the Toronto Summer Music Festival.

Christina is an alumna of McGill University (G.D.P., M.Mus.), the University of Manitoba (B.Mus.), Toronto Summer Music Festival, the Franz-Schubert-Institut, Stratford Summer Music Festival Academy, Opera NUOVA, and Wendy Nielsen’s Opera Workshop.

When not singing, Christina enjoys exploring Manitoba with her geologist-father as a licensed prospector. She flew co-pilot for the first time in a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver plane last year.

“One of Messiah’s most eagerly anticipated numbers is the soprano soloist’s Part I aria “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.” Thanisch-Smith tossed off its effervescent colouratura passages with aplomb, with her carefully nuanced, crystal clear vocals also heard later in Part III’s “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” ringing with palpable, radiant conviction.”

— Winnipeg Free Press

“The secondary roles were also well handled, especially Christina Thanisch-Smith as Adina’s friend and confident, Giannetta. Her number with the chorus was richly comic and a memorable point in the production.”

— Calgary Herald

“Lyric coloratura soprano Christina Thanisch-Smith crafted a radiant Eurydice, striking just the right chord between regal mythological presence and all-too-human vulnerability as she grows increasingly distraught with her husband’s refusal to gaze upon her as they escape the Underworld. Thanisch-Smith displayed shimmering vocals with pitch perfect intonation during Act 3’s ‘Fortune ennemie/Che fiero momento,’ her crystal clear voice caressing the ear with ringing high notes, as well as sensitively balancing during the duet ‘Viens, suis un epoux qui t’adore/Vieni, appaga il tuo consorte.’”