I had been living in Northern Italy for a few months when a pianist, a tenor, and I were asked to give a concert. The local church had access to a grand piano and a lovely concert hall, and they wanted an evening of opera. We were delighted to oblige.
One night in preparation for the concert I was working on “O mio babbino caro” from Gianni Schicchi, a song I had performed at least a dozen times before. As I sang Lauretta’s line, “Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio, ma per buttarmi in Arno” (“I would go to Ponte Vecchio to throw myself in the Arno”), suddenly the words took on new life. Months of intense language immersion had turned syllables into intelligible words!
But that wasn’t all. Just weeks earlier I had walked among the jewelry shops lining the beautiful Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence and watched the flowing Arno river below me. As I later sang the lyrics, I could see it all in my mind’s eye. My newfound perspective and deepened understanding thrilled me.
Opera’s tradition is based in a variety of languages and cultures. A broader understanding of the world can enhance your performance skills and improve your professional confidence leading to greater levels of success in creating meaningful art. The greater our worldview, the more capable artists we become.
René Pape, featured in this month’s cover story, grew up in Dresden, Germany, behind the Iron Curtain. The wall came down when Pape was in his early 20s, just beginning his career—a career that his taken him around the globe. Even after many years experiencing other cultures, those early years in East Germany remain a strong influence in Pape’s life and career, as he shares with Olivia Giovetti (p. 16).
After a successful international career, American soprano Janet Williams has put down roots in Berlin and now teaches at two German universities (p. 34). She shares not only how this has changed her own way of viewing the world, but also her German students’ perspectives on their own music education and careers.
But you don’t have to traverse the ocean to broaden your worldview. Moving to New York City can be just as eye opening, at least according to Joanie Brittingham (p. 12). If you’re considering relocating, be sure to check out her helpful tips for making the move as smooth as possible.
Finally, it’s not just travel that influences the way we see things. Day-to-day life experiences—both good and bad, regardless of geographical location—play a part, too. Rachel Antman sheds light on a seldom broached but unfortunate reality: sexual harassment in the opera industry (p. 38). Learn from other professionals what to do if you find yourself in such a situation. How we handle even the most difficult circumstances can truly define us.
Living among the Italian people for 18 months did more than make me fluent in Italian. Their intense and open admiration for the arts, specifically opera, deepened my own sense of purpose in my chosen profession. My self-view changed and grew right along with my worldview—and that was, perhaps, the greatest perspective gained of all.
