Basque-American born tenor, Christopher Bengochea, has been praised as having "power, sure intonation, and fine diction that come in a package tied with a ribbon of 'natural sound.'.....It is a unique, broadly-projected "wide" sound that can serve lyrical or heroic music equally well," as quoted by Janos Gereben of the San Francisco Classical Voice.  He has delighted audiences with his unique combination of vocal and dramatic interpretations in performances ranging from art song to opera.

Most recently Mr. Bengochea has been seen as Reverend Samuel Parris in The Crucible and King Gustavus III in Un ballo in maschera. Richard Scheinin of the The Mercury News says.."to hear Bengochea expand into big, lusty high notes -- Verdi specials -- was thrilling.... Bengochea, who was impressive in ``The Crucible''.. could be the tenor the company has been waiting for." Finishing the 2005-06 season he adds Rodolfo in La boheme, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and the title role in Poliuto. He will also perfoming the tenor soloist in Mozart's Great Mass in c minor with the Mozart Festival of San Luis Obispo under the baton of Scott Yoo. In 2006-07 Mr. Bengochea will performing the title role in Roméo et Juliette, Alfredo in La traviata, and Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly and Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore in 2008.

In the fall of 2004 Bengochea performed the title role of Giueseppe Verdi's Ernani. Richard Covello of the Chicago Tribune called Mr. Bengochea's performance in the title role of Verdi's Ernani "flawless". "He has command of Italianate style along with ringing top notes and a smooth legato - a fine, even dramatic, tenor in the making." Other engagements in the 2004-05 season included Erik in the world premiere opera of Alva Henderson's, Nosferatu, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Alfredo in La traviata, Cavaradossi in Tosca, and Episua in Poia.

The 2003-2004 season had Mr. Bengochea appearing with the Opera Company of Brooklyn as Ruggero Lestouc in La Rondine, and with the Rimrock Opera as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni. According to Christine Meyers of the Billings Gazette, casting brought "..a gem to light with Christopher Bengochea's Don Ottavio..He adds personality and passion as Donna Anna's intended." During the Christmas season, he played the role of Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors with the Grace Church Society. Other notable appearances are Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Don Paco in Luis Alonso.

Companies with which Christopher has perfomed include: Opera San Jose, da Corneto Opera,Center City Opera, Opera Company Brooklyn, MCT Theater Opera, Jarvis Conservatory, Intermountain Opera, Townsend Opera, Rimrock Opera, Pacific Repertory Opera, Livermore Valley Opera, West Bay Opera, Teatro Felice, Caramoor Opera, and the Tigulio Festival Opera.

At home on both the operatic and concert stages, Bengochea was heard as the Evangelist in Bach's Weihnachts Oratorium with the New York City Chorale Society. Other Oratorio engagements include: Mendelssohn's Lobgesang, and Tallis's The Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet.

He began his musical career as a pianist then moved into the study of opera at age 18 during his time at Montana State University continuing later to the University of Montana. After becoming an award winner at the Northwest Regional Metropolitan Opera national council auditions and winning third prize at the Internationale Societa Concertistica Vocal Competition in Santa Margherita-Ligure, Italy, it was obvious that opera was not only Bengochea's passion, but also his future profession.