Lisette Oropesa: I’m a 50-50 singer
Daily Comfort ZoneMet principal trumpet David Krauss returns today to slippedisc.com with his Speaking Soundly series, opening with the American soprano Lisette Oropesa.
She discusses, among other things, how she transitioned from playing flute to singing opera, and how much weight she had to shed to do so: ‘I was told I had to get into shape…. You’re not a singer in that moment, you’re just a fat girl.’
Listen here.
She’s a fantastic singer. Musical, technically secure, charming. To paraphrase Spencer Tracey, she makes most other singers look like bums…
But Pavarotti didn’t get into shape and was still a quite good singer, wasn’t he.
But do like her dress…
Men in opera–and in society–have always enjoyed more leeway with regard to weight. The problem has only gotten worse with the advent of HD. Just think of the singers we are missing.
Continued success to Ms. Oropesa. It is well-deserved.
But Pavarotti came to fame many decades ago when “looks” were secondary. Watch “The Audition” about the Met National Finals which is from way back in 2008-9 or so, and there is a discussion during the judging about this. And I bet that 16 years later there might have been a different outcome
Did she lose most of the dress with the weight? Who required it?
And WHAT is that?
That is the most ridiculous outfit, even compared to the nipple shirt of Nezet-Seguin.
Who wants to parade around in that?
Unbelievable.
She may be a good singer but she only covers 50% of her chest, as the title of this article indicates.
There is a very different standard for males vs females
How will we know when it’s over?
I heard Yuja will borrow her dress for her next recital.
She’s beautiful. What a wonderful Salome she’d be in that dress.
Could she play the flute in that dress?