Baritone CHRIS FISTONICH is a PhD Immunologist and cybersecurity researcher turned opera singer. Chris has been hailed as a "voluminous, beefy baritone" with "supple variation of dynamics" (South Florida Classical Review), as "strong" (Schmopera), and with "power" (Washington Classical Review).
Upcoming engagements include Colas (Bastien und Bastienne) with Garden State Opera, and The Bonze (Madama Butterfly) with New Jersey Lyric Opera.
Recent engagements include Baron Douphol (La Traviata) with Chandler Opera Company, Le Baron de Gondremarck (La Vie Parisienne) with L'Opéra Comique de Washington, Count Monterone (Rigoletto) with New Jersey Lyric Opera, Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte) with Gemma Arts, Baron Scarpia (Tosca) with Garden State Opera, Marcello (La Bohème) with Amore Opera, Escamillo (Carmen) with Music on Site, Count Danilo Danilovitsch (The Merry Widow) with Delaware Valley Opera Company, Vodník (Rusalka) with the Utah Summer Opera Festival, and Pandolfe (Cendrillon) with Miami Music Festival.
Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Chris received his Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics from UCLA in 2012. After graduating, Chris attended Yale University, earning a Ph.D. in Immunobiology and publishing his research in 2018.
Chris has sung under notable conductors including Gustavo Dudamel with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin with The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Chris received an Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition in 2022.