It is almost impossible to imagine the world of opera without Birgit Nilsson. During her decades-long reign as the leading dramatic soprano, she redefined the standard for Wagnerian singing—a standard that has remained largely unmatched since her retirement in the early 1980s. But Nilsson was far more than a voice of steel. As her artistry matured, she developed a deep commitment to the psychological and emotional depth of her characters, bringing dramatic truth to performances that might otherwise have relied solely on vocal power.

This compilation highlights both the vocal and dramatic range that made Nilsson such a towering presence on the operatic stage. Featured here are excerpts from Un Ballo in maschera, Aida, Turandot, Elektra, Die Frau ohne Schatten, Salome, Der fliegende Holländer, Tristan und Isolde, Die Walküre, and Götterdämmerung.