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CRISTINA ORTEGA has had a notable career nationally and internationally by expressing the operatic and concert music in prestigious Mexican, North American and European Theatres and Concerts Halls. She studied voice and music at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, under the direction of the distinguished baritone and maestro Angel R. Esquivel.

During her opera and concert career she had the opportunity to represent Mexico in some of the most prestigious venues in the world. Ms. Ortega was the first Mexican opera singer to perform Mexican concert songs at the Carnegie Hall in New York City. Her opera career has led to perform with renowned artists such as Montserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo, Beverly Sills, John Alexander, Gilda Cruz Romo, Luigi Alva, Teresa Berganza, Francisco Araiza, Pedro Lavirgen, Mignon Dunn, Norman Treigle, Sesto Bruscantini, Louis Quilico, Arturo Ramòn Vargas, Luis Lima, Juan Pons.

She sang under the direction of the renowned directors: Anton Guadagno, Luis Herrera de la Fuente, Carlo Felice Cillario, Kurt Klipsttater, Eduardo Mata, Carlos Chavez and others. As an interpreter of popular traditional and romantic songs, she performed in a variety of television series and programs for three decades.

She is a dedicated promoter of the Lyric Art, Hispanic music and songs, which developed her career as an Artistic Director. In 1972 she formed her own Lyric Company which presented Opera, Zarzuela and Operetta seasons in Mexico City, nationwide, Central America and in 1988, 1991 and 1993 at the International Festival of Zarzuela at El Paso, Texas.

In 1989 she celebrated her Silver Anniversary for her opera singing career by performing the role which marked her debut, Violeta from La Traviata. In 1994 after 30 years dedicated to the art of singing opera in concert she was honored in the Palace of Fine Arts Concert Hall in Mexico City. Because of Ms. Ortega's many different facets and splendid presentations, she has received many awards and acknowledgments from several organizations, cultural institutions and public media, and has been received with wide acclaim by worldwide audiences.

In 1989 she moved to San Antonio, Texas and since 1994 she has been the Artistic Director of the Hispanic Heritage Society and the Artistic Group Voces de San Antonio.

Continuing her career as a concert performer, she has appeared in the Society’s program “Opera Delights” since 1999, offering a variety of selections from Opera, Zarzuela, Operetta and romantic songs, and alternating with invited artists. In November 2002 she again performed in Mexico at the Silvestre Revueltas Auditorium of the National Conservatory of Music and in May 2003 at the Festival of the Historical Center at the Ex Palace of the Archbishop.

In February 2004 she received recognition from the Society Art and Renaissance A.C. and Cultural Institutions of the City of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, for her brilliant 40 year career. In June 2004 she was invited by San Antonio Lyric Opera to be Stage Director for Bizet’s opera Carmen, which successfully capped the season. On November 7 Ms. Ortega will celebrated her 40th Anniversary at the Recital Hall Manuel M. Ponce of the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City.

Since 2004 she continues concert work presentations in Mexico and San Antonio. With the annual program of different events she promotes the diversity and richness of the Hispanic culture and musical traditions.