A Baker’s Story

I was born in 1982 in eastern Croatia, where I grew up on a farm. One of my favorite tasks as a child was taking the goats to pasture. While alone in the fields, I would often sing, and it was during those quiet moments that my love for music truly blossomed. By the age of twelve, I had already made up my mind—I wanted to be an opera singer. This revelation came as a surprise to my parents, but despite their initial shock, they supported my dream. At just 14, I moved to the nearest city to pursue my passion.

After finishing high school, I relocated to Stuttgart, Germany, to study vocal performance at the Music Academy. Those were enriching years, filled with growth, as I supported myself by singing in choirs, which took me on tours around the world with various vocal ensembles. In 2006, I received my first professional engagement as a soloist at the Stuttgart State Opera, marking the start of my career. The road of an opera singer is steep and winding, and my journey led me from the State Opera of Hannover, to the Theater Dortmund, the Hamburg State Opera, the Komische Oper Berlin, and the National Theater Mannheim. Eventually, I embraced the freedom of freelancing, and I returned to Stuttgart to be closer to my now-husband and the friends I had always cherished. To me, home has always been where the people I love are.

Between 2012 and 2016, life threw me an unexpected challenge when I was diagnosed with cancer. It was a tough time, but as with every phase of my life, I found strength and comfort in love. My husband, family, and friends supported me—physically and emotionally—helping me through the difficult years. Once I regained my health, I fought hard to rebuild my physical strength and rediscover my voice. In 2018, I returned to the opera stage. As much as I had longed to sing again, something felt different—the stage no longer fulfilled me the way it once had.

During my illness, I had found solace in a new passion: baking, especially sourdough bread. It reminded me of the times I had spent with my grandmother on her farm, baking bread together. As I explored the world of natural fermentation, a new dream began to take shape—the dream of opening a small bakery, where I could be the baker.

Then the pandemic struck, bringing the world to a halt. But for me, it also provided the time and space to fully immerse myself in the craft of baking. I dove deeper into the art of bread-making and, eventually, made the decision to shift careers from opera singer to sourdough baker.

In 2022, I was one of four career changers granted special permission by the Chamber of Crafts to take the proficiency exam at the Federal Academy of the Baking Trade. This pivotal step confirmed that my small dream was becoming a reality. Since then, I have worked tirelessly to expand my knowledge, learning from bakers in Romania, Croatia, Italy, and Germany, honing my skills along the way. After a long search for the right location, I’m thrilled to say that Brotgesang has found its home—and soon, it will sing.