“A chubby bundle of puppy fat.” “Unsightly and unattractive.” “Repulsive figure.” These comments count as professional feedback in the world of opera. At first glance, they may appear to be isolated cases; only seldom does body shaming make headlines in the opera industry. The most prominent exception was the “little black dress” which did not fit Deborah Voigt, resulting in her being expelled from a Royal Opera House production of “Ariadne auf Naxos” by Christof Loy. In 2004, Voigt underwent gastric bypass surgery; a solution that is part of a problem that shapes everyday life for many singers.
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