Born in Berlin, Brigitte Fassbaender studied singing with her father, Willy Domgraf-Fassbaender, and was engaged (at the age of 21) by the Staatsoper Munich where she sang a large repertoire of mezzo roles including Oktavian, Dorabella, Sesto, Carmen, Eboli, Amneris, Charlotte, Fricka, Geschwitz, Brangäne, Orlofsky, Quickly, Herodias, Amme, Klytemnästra, Clairon and many others.

She sang on all the great stages of the world, including the Metropolitan, San Francisco, Chicago, La Scala Milan, Covent Garden, Vienna, Bayreuth, Berlin, Hamburg and Salzburg and worked with all the great conductors.

Over the years, the recital and concert platform became increasingly important, and in the recording studio, over 200 records were made.

In January 1995, Brigitte Fassbaender decided to retire from the stage in order to devote herself full time to stage directing, a second career which had begun in 1990. Since then she has directed over 40 productions worldwide. She also enjoys a considerable international reputation as a teacher.

In the autumn of 1995, Brigitte Fassbaender undertook the job of opera director for a highly successful two-year interim period at the Staatsheater Braunschweig.

In September 1999 she assumed the position of Intendantin of the Landestheater Innsbruck, a position she will hold until 2012.