‘Singularly Clueless’ And ‘A Shade Disingenuous’: Anne Midgette On The Current Sexist-Critics-Vs.-Singers-Of-Size Brouhaha

“Mentioning a singer’s looks may be relevant in some cases, but dismissing a strong vocal performance as a ‘problem’ because of those looks seems to me singularly clueless. Opera’s history has been full of the physiques that gave birth to the fat-lady cliché. To suddenly act as though credible looks represented the ultimate criterion of a successful performance is at the very least confusing.”