With dramatic voices, there’s often some crossover between the Italian and German repertories, but most singers clearly belong to one Fach or the other. Gré Brouwenstijn was a striking exception. Her voice, both voluptuous and full of thrust, made her equally convincing as Sieglinde or Tosca—no small feat. Whether navigating the lyricism of Verdi or the psychological nuance of Wagner and Janáček, Brouwenstijn remained vocally commanding and dramatically compelling.

What set her apart even further was the emotional honesty she brought to her roles. She had a rare ability to humanize even the most iconic heroines—her Tosca, for example, reveals vulnerability without sacrificing vocal power, making the character all the more believable. This compilation showcases Brouwenstijn’s remarkable range and interpretive depth with excerpts from Un Ballo in maschera, Tosca, Otello, Don Carlo, Jenůfa, Fidelio, Tannhäuser, Die Walküre, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and Elektra.