While (Deborah Voigt) believes the art of singing should be more important than appearance, or "package," she said, "in order for the art form to survive with the media of today, singers have to be more believable, whatever that means to the public. Opera houses have to compete with everything else, and audiences are less likely today to accept singers who are 130 pounds overweight."

Dear Debbie, is there really any need for the Gelbspeak?