There are few things more stunning in nature than a glorious full moon.
I love looking up and seeing that bright globe in the sky with its happy face shining down. I guess I assumed everyone saw the moon as I did, and I was recently quite startled to learn that in all of my father’s 77 years, he had never seen the Man in the Moon.
I was baffled. How could we both have looked at the very same object and yet not have seen the same thing?
Each year in preparation for the January issue, I review singers’ feedback on their recent summer program experiences (reviews are available at www.classicalsinger.com). I often come across two people who attended the same summer program but report completely different experiences. One had the time of her life and learned more than she ever could have imagined; the other was miserable and felt it was a waste of his time and money.
Again, I am baffled. How can two people attend the same program and yet have such night-and-day different experiences?
Therein lies the rub. So many things influence how we perceive others and events: prior experiences, lack of experience, needs and wants, an abundant imagination, a lack of imagination, attitude, and so much more. Since perception is essentially a subjective interpretation of events, accepting our own or others’ perception as fact can be dangerous.
Take composer Jake Heggie, featured in this month’s cover story. At first glance, you might think that Heggie has led a charmed life. How many composers live to see their works commissioned, performed, and cherished? As Heggie shares a glimpse into his life behind the scenes, however, it is clear it has not all been a bed of roses. He alludes to heartache as he has watched many close to him die too young. And he nearly gave up the piano and composing when a hand injury forced him to stop playing.
As singers we spend a lot of time fixating on how others perceive us—especially program directors, whose thoughts we rarely get a glimpse of. In this issue, Cindy Sadler unveils her perceptions of program participants over the last three years as director of Spotlight on Opera. Does your behavior give others the perception you want? Read Cindy’s advice to find out.
In this annual summer program issue, we also feature singers’ reviews of other summer programs like Brevard, Aspen, four programs in Rome, a new program on the island of Nantucket, and the Tyrolean Opera Program in Austria. As you read their perspectives, think about where you are coming from, what your needs are, and what you hope to gain from a summer program. Combining your perspective with theirs will help you best evaluate potential summer program opportunities.
Not long ago, my dad had a Man-in-the-Moon breakthrough. While gazing at the moon with a few of his grandchildren, one of them carefully explained with great detail what the Man in the Moon looked like. From his grandson’s description, suddenly that famous face in the moon came to life in my father’s eyes.
Sometimes when we have been fixed on one viewpoint for so long, we are simply unable to see beyond our own perspective. As we allow ourselves to share in others’ perspectives, our eyes can be opened and our outlook broadened. May this month’s offerings expand your own perspective.
