‘Beauty’ is the beast

Irish soprano Tara Erraught was ‘mauled’ by British critics for her appearance. ‘Lookism’ disrespects us all, says Suzanne Harrington

THE debut of Irish mezzo soprano, Tara Erraught, at Glyndebourne, the Glastonbury of the opera world, was reviewed in several UK newspapers. Critics — that is, men — tore into her, but not for her voice — it is apparently divine — but for her looks. They said she was “unbelievable, unsightly and unappealing” (The Times); “dumpy” (The Independent); “stocky” (The Guardian); “a chubby bundle of puppy fat” (The Financial Times); and had an “intractable physique” (The Daily Telegraph).

“Unappealing”? In what context? Musically, Erraught is incredibly appealing. So did the male critic mean that he didn’t fancy her? Is this his job as a critic, to fancy female opera singers, or deem them fanciable?