It remains something of a mystery why Pauline Tinsley—affectionately known to some as “the Tin”—did not enjoy a career commensurate with her extraordinary talent. Her voice combined power with beauty, and she possessed a fearless musical intelligence that allowed her to excel in a remarkably wide range of repertoire.

This compilation offers two hours of excerpts spanning works as diverse as Agrippina, Ernani, Macbeth, Il Trovatore, Simon Boccanegra, La Forza del destino, Edgar, Turandot, Cavalleria Rusticana, Götterdämmerung, Jenůfa, and Salome—a testament to both her vocal versatility and dramatic range.

Since many of these recordings come from regional U.K. theaters, the sound quality varies from track to track, but Tinsley’s formidable presence always shines through.