[音樂會見聞感想] 因體重被炒魷魚的美國女高音Deborah Voigt重返歌劇舞台

她很美吧，她是享譽世界的美國女高音Deborah Voigt ，以演唱瓦格納，斯特勞斯的歌劇作品而稱著歌劇界， 可也正是她，於2004年在倫敦皇家歌劇院排演斯特勞斯的歌劇： Ariadne auf Naxos ， 因為體重過胖穿不了一件黑色的戲服裙子而被炒魷魚，頓時歌劇界一片嘩然， 這也是在歌劇史上不多見的, 演員因為體形而不是嗓音被中途辭退。

Deborah Voigt 自然是很憤怒， 她自己也承認自年輕時代就為肥胖症而煩惱，可又戒不掉喜歡吃垃圾食物的癮，經過一番思考她下決心與肥胖Deborah Voigt，決定接受胃的部分切除手術，當然還有飲食健身的配合，終於瘦下來了，衣服的號從30到14號，並向12號進軍！手術後7個星期後又重返舞台， Deborah Voigt 活躍在世界各地的歌劇院，音樂廳裏，但是她揚言再也不會登Covent Garden的倫敦皇家歌劇院（ROH)的大門了。 可戲劇性的是：2008年倫敦皇家歌劇院又上演同樣的歌劇Ariadne auf Naxos，Deborah Voigt 被倫敦皇家歌劇院真誠邀請返回Covent Garden演唱同一角色， 受到一致掌聲， 人生真是一大舞台，就連舞台上的演員也免不了被命運作弄。

去年6月12日Deborah Voigt在倫敦巴比肯音樂中心有一場獨唱音樂會， 當時是因為在巴比肯的《Great performers》係列裏看到她的名字，也是第一次知道她的名字， 那段時間我對歌劇開始感興趣，喜歡聽美聲， 買票時很吃驚她的獨唱音樂會的票怎麽會賣得這麽便宜。

在這場音樂會Deborah Voigt 演唱的曲目都是德奧作曲家的，節目單如下：

Friday12/06/2009 Soprano Deborah Voigt Barbicain center

Wagner 'Dich, teure Halle' from Tannhauser
Wagner 'Du bist der Lenz' from Die Walkure
Strauss 'Zweite Braut Nacht' from Die Aegyptische Helena
Strauss 'Ich kann Nicht Sitzen ' from Elektra
Beethoven 'Abscheulicher' from Fidelio
Strauss Final scene from Salome

London Symphony Orchestra
Asher Fisch conductor
Deborah Voigt soprano






巴比肯音樂會上的Deborah Voigt

我平日聽得多的還是意大利歌劇作曲家威爾第，普契尼的歌劇， 對瓦格納，斯特勞斯，貝多芬的歌劇聽得不多，我一邊聽，一邊看英文翻譯。Deborah Voigt 不愧是當今最好的女高音之一，音色園美，音介高低上下滑動這麽輕鬆自如，唱了幾首曲子以後她開始說話與觀眾溝通，她非常幽默，引來台下大笑， 可以感受到不少觀眾是她的鐵杆歌迷，他們都為舞台上的Deborah Voigt 依然那麽自信而鬆口氣， 在最後Encore時， Deborah Voigt 唱了《Fair Lady》裏的《I could have danced》， 一片掌聲雷動，往往是這樣，加演Encore時的氣氛是最高潮的，台上台下都是那麽依依不舍。 這時我也不顧那麽多，走到台前鼓掌，我身邊的一位樂迷興高采烈地對我說：《She is gorgeuse, we need to take care of her 她是這麽迷人，我們必須多關照她》， 看來群眾的眼睛還是非常雪亮的，特別是那些訓練有素的樂迷們。

那晚Deborah Voigt 一開始穿的是一件金色晚禮裙，然後換了一件紅色的裙子，更襯出她的高貴，美麗和大度， 一位不可會辱的Diva! 她的確很美， 這場音樂會我也有很多收獲：第一次聽以德奧作曲家曲目為主的歌劇音樂會， 見識了這位大起大落得歌劇Diva 風采。也感歎到我們的世界越來越被商業吞噬，就連很純音樂藝術的歌劇界為了取悅觀眾也不得不走性感路線了，光有漂亮的歌喉是遠遠不夠的； 另外就是胖瘦也是可以事在人為的！

 



Deborah Voigt discussing weight and opera singers on Good Morning America, April 6, 2004  

巴比肯音樂中心對Deborah Voigt 的介紹：

Deborah Voigt is one of today's most thrilling dramatic sopranos, earning rave reviews around the world for her performances.
With her charismatic stage presence and a voice effortlessly capable of soaring power and beautiful lyricism, she has already made some of the repertoire's most famous roles her 'own'. In tonight's programme she captures the drama and energy of some of the most memorable – and demanding – operatic moments from Wagner, Strauss and Beethoven.
Accompanying Voigt as she makes her much anticipated return to the Great Performers series is Barbican resident ensemble the London Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Asher Fisch, a former assistant to Daniel Barenboim.
‘Voigt filled the auditorium with a superbly controlled crescendo of sound.’  Guardian


2004年小黑裙風波（2004: The "little black dress" ）-wiki

In 2004, Voigt was removed from the role of Ariadne at Royal Opera House when she could not fit into one of the costumes, a "little black dress."^{[3][20][21][22]} The director wanted her to wear it, instead of the typical period costume used in such operas, letting out the dress with tailoring, or replacing it with another costume. She was replaced by Anne Schwanewilms, a German singer of slimmer appearance.  She was "very angry" about the incident, but kept silent about it for several months. When the decision became public, Covent Garden received significant criticism in the media.^[ It was pointed out that many notable sopranos, such as Luisa Tetrazzini, Jessye Norman and Jane Eaglen, had been "large-boned, the zaftig, even the enormous", and Voigt had merely "followed in their heavy footsteps."

The decision was also criticized because of the popular stereotype that female opera singers have to be heavy anyway, in order to do a good job. There is the old expression that "in opera, great voices often come in large packages". and the well-worn saying about opera that "It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings" She was headlined in the British tabloid press as "The show ain't over till the fat lady slims." There was also an outcry because, it seemed at the time, that high culture performing arts, such as opera, should not emulate low culture Hollywood images of thin female stars. 

By a strange twist of fate, the incident may have helped her in the long run. Voigt had tried many well-known diets, such as Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers, unsuccessfully over the years. Maestro Georg Solti, "who never minced words", had once expressed concern about her weight. She underwent three-hour gastric bypass surgery, which she has discussed publicly. It is highly risky for any person, but especially for a singer, who depends on a strong thoracic diaphragm to "belt out" or project notes. Luckily, the operation, performed at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York city, was successful.  She lost over 100 pounds (or 10 stone), and went from a size 30, to size 14. She has refused to reveal her exact weight before and after the surgery. However, "before and after" photographs clearly show a considerable loss of mass.

Voigt has said she went through the surgery not only because of the Royal Opera House but also because of her concern about health problems caused by the overweight.In other interviews with the New York Times in 2005 and 2008, she said the fees that she was owed from the Covent Garden paid in part for the surgery. Her concern was that the firing was done so cruelly. In several interviews over the past few years, she has expressed relief and delight in the weight loss.

Since her dramatic weight loss, Deborah Voigt has been rehired by the Royal Opera House for the role she was originally fired from in 2004.The public reaction was positive. Voigt said in 2005 that she felt "good will from fans and the public." She said in 2008 that she "assumed" the "rapprochement" did not happen until they had new management.


這裏有幾篇文章可以讀讀：
1。 Slimmed-down soprano says looks count:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/18/2277959.htm

2。 Diva gives in to the weight of slender expectations:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Arts/Diva-gives-in-to-the-weight-of-slender-expectations/2005/03/29/1111862388788.html

3 Royal Opera announces cast change for Tosca
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/roh-cast-tosca-0609.shtml