So what if Poppea’s pregnant?

So what if Poppea’s pregnant?

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norman lebrecht

July 12, 2018

An encouraging tweet from the French soprano Julie Fuchs, fired from Hamburg’s Magic Flute for being four months’ pregnant.

This represented no impediment for Zurich Opera.

On the contrary.

 

Comments

  • Sue says:

    Look at meeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

  • anon says:

    Being fired for being pregnant is the last vestige of misogyny and gender discrimination. I’m surprised it is still legal in Northern Europe.

    • Saxon Broken says:

      You can not be fired for being pregnant. But you can be fired for “not being able to perform your duties”. The employer has to make “reasonable adjustments” or an “alternative, equivalent role”. But if you can not perform after making these adjustments, then you get stood down.

      In her case the venue offered alternative employment at a later date but decided someone pregnant could not perform the role.

  • Sharon says:

    It might have something to do with flying through the air in The Magic Flute although that can be changed.

    A lot of companies are just afraid of liability. Would somebody be hired for a role that could involve potential falls or accidents if they had a walking impediment or needed a cane?

    I am not justifying firing someone for being pregnant however. I believe that opera companies and all employers for that matter should make every effort to make reasonable accommodations.

    If a woman wants to take a couple of months or even more, to care for the baby, even in child allowance, Europe, she might need the salary.

    • Klaus says:

      Dear Sharon.

      Hamburg opera lied everyone talking about “flying soprano”. In that Mozat’s production nobody flyed in the air.
      They use that “expression” to justify their stupid decision.
      I am ashamed of the direction of that opera house and of the person or persons responsible for fired one of the best sopranos of today because she is 4 months pregnant.

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