Mozart, Metal, and the Fit Lady Sings

René Pape is fast becoming one of the most sought-after singers in the world. He celebrated a trio of firsts recently: a Carnegie Hall solo debut, his first Metropolitan Opera outing as Leporello in Mozart's "Don Giovanni," and the release of his first solo recording "Mein Herz brennt" (Deutsche Grammophon) a song-cycle based on lyrics of the German industrial band Rammsteim. He finds time in his busy schedule to speak with host John Schaefer. We also look at the recent controversy that erupted when soprano Deborah Voigt was fired by London's Royal Opera House because she was deemed too heavy to sing in the forthcoming production of "Ariadne auf Naxos." How does the opera world approach image-making? We look at this weighty issue with Steven Blier, artistic director of the New York Festival of Song.
Additional Resources:
» René Pape's Web site
» Soprano Says Her Weight Cost Her Role in London
» Can an Opera Singer be Too Fat?