A recent interview with the soprano in the New York Times is very candid and includes comments from Ms. Swenson regarding the Met. She says that she has been dropped after 2 decads because she isn’t famous enough, isn’t thin enough, and focuses on music instead of acting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/05/arts/music/05ruth.html?_r=1&oref=slogin