May 27, 2004
to be or not to be attractive
Apparently you can't be a serious classical musician and be attractive. At least not if you are a woman.
I like beautiful music, and don't really care who is performing it, but if the performer is a beautiful woman, I see no reason why she should hide it. Flaunt away! Skin-tight catsuits for all!
"In a sense the resistance to strong, attractive women is comparable to resistance to so-called Eurotrash opera productions or to "La Bohème" on Broadway: resistance against any change to a status quo that already feels very, very fragile."
Posted by halsey at May 27, 2004 09:15 AMThank you on behalf of all classical women musicians ;) From what I heard from fellow musicians, critics and audience, attractive female performers have always been appreciated. That said, looking too sexy can bring out jealousy and criticism from those who are just looking for an excuse to say something negative. The old cliché of wanting to be appreciated for brains and not beauty holds true for skill and talent. In the classical world it’s still about quality, not looks. Of course, in the politics behind the scenes and in record marketing sex appeal can be used to your advantage –it’s a delicate balance.
Posted by: yd at June 1, 2004 04:19 PM