All over for the fat lady singing

A row about fat ladies in the world of opera erupted today after a leading soprano was sacked because of her size.

American diva Deborah Voight was booked for a June production of Ariadne on Naxos at London's Covent Garden but her contract was cancelled because she is too big, a Royal Opera House spokesman confirmed.

Ms Voight, who is estimated to weigh between 15 and 20 stones, has been replaced by thinner singer Anne Schwanewilms.

Casting Director Peter Katona has defended his decision on the basis Ms Voight would not look right in the black evening dress he had planned for the part.

The spokesman confirmed Mr Katona’s comments to the Sunday Telegraph in which he said: “Although Ms Voight is a wonderful singer the costume and type of production made it not such a fortunate suggestion that she should be in it.

“Normally Ariadne is presented on a stylised Greek island with the singers wearing toga-type cloths, but we wanted to present it in elegant, modern evening dress.

“In making these kinds of decision it is not just a question of how someone looks; it is also how they move on stage.”

Mr Katona also told the paper that a number of opera singers use their job as an “excuse” to eat too much, when in fact size has little to do with the power of a voice.

Ms Voight is reported to be sad about the decision which her associate manager, Michael Benchetrit, described as “ridiculous”.