Opera singers are falling victim to the cult of thin

Iused to be anti-opera – it seemed a nightmarish combination of the silly and the long. But there was one thing I admired about it: its bold embrace of fat. It seemed so other, so refreshing, to see women and men lauded as celebrity artistes despite so clearly packing the pounds. Ironically, the opera performance that turned me into a fan – the sizzling Giulio Cesare at Glyndebourne in 2005 – was also the show that made clear to me that the age of the fat opera lead was in decline. The production’s star, Danielle de Niese as Cleopatra, was beautiful, lissom and without an ounce of podge on her. She looked just like a Hollywood star.

Since then I’ve enjoyed many operas; marred only by the fact that they’ve increasingly starred superslender leads that look more like mere physical copies of film stars or sexy West End thesps than people who belt out hours of Verdi and Handel for a living. While I am fully aware of the harmful health effects of being too chubby, and don’t like to see talent (or anyone) squandering their longevity with too many pies, I can’t help but be fed up with thin people in the arts and entertainment.

So I sympathised with the plight of the Cuban-American soprano Lisette Oropesa, who last week revealed that she has missed out on roles due to her portly size. Weighing 14st 13lb at her heaviest, the 34-year-old certainly could have done with a bit of slimming down. But why should she? As she herself noted with dismay, her difficulties stem from audiences who want to listen “with their eyes”. It’s a shame that even the best of opera singers must these days fall victim to the cult of thin in order to be heard.

If you can’t beat them, join them: Ms Oropesa is now a svelte-looking marathon runner. I’m pleased for her health, but can’t help mourn another capitulation to the tyranny of litheness.