Deborah Voigt Returns to Stage

Posted by Sarah Canice Funke Jun 23, 2008

Back in 2004, Deborah Voigt had a dazzling career playing lead roles in opera houses round the world. Did it matter if she was heavy if she had a voice that soared? Apparently in today's weight sensitive culture, even the "fat ladies" at the opera are under scrutiny. And when Voigt was denied the lead role in the Royal Opera House's Ariadne auf Naxos because she couldn't fit into the black dress that would serve as Ariadne's costume, the trend was confirmed publicly.

Voigt underwent gastric bypass surgery and lost 135 pounds. Though she stated that she lost the weight for health reasons, she still felt that our culture's attitude toward obesity was "the last bastion of open discrimination in our society." The sopranos who will get what Voigt describes as the "pretty-girl parts" will be the ones with the slim and trim waists.

The weight loss has allowed Voigt to return to the role once denied her: she will be performing in the Royal Opera House's 2008 production of Ariadne auf Naxos, in the same black dress once too small for her figure. However, her new body size has affected her voice and caused some adjustments to the way she approaches singing.

For more information, please see the CBC News article.