My father was a cantor, but he wanted more than that. He was a big, good-looking man, and wanted to sing opera professionally, had even an invitation to audition at the Met, which he postponed again and again. Unlike his own, less-talented father, who only stood in his way, my father, up until his early death, encouraged me a lot. But I have always had guilt feelings about surpassing his achievements, and achieving something that he was actually entitled to. I greatly hope that I don't pass these emotions on to my son.
Guilt is also something that others force upon one.
My divorce from my first wife was like that - my relationship with my very strong mother, whose intense love was almost crushing, has something to do with it. Guilt is a projection of Society on the individual, in order to control it. Guilt is a feeling that arises when breaking contracts, with cancellations. Guilt, however, above all, a sense of inferiority resulting from the apparent failure when one doesn't mean to satisfy the expectations one has aroused. I always led my career, like my life, very personally, certainly differently than other singers.