And singers in opera generally have no option, of course, no matter how difficult the part may be to learn, and despite the fact that they may be having to cope with awkward set/costumes/choreography/inaudible orchestra etc. I did a recital at quite short notice once where there just wasn't time to learn the material, so I worked from dots and hated it. I like to be able to look the animal that's an audience straight in the eye and communicate on every level...

You name it, I've done it, son.....

When I sang in choirs I always hated it when some control freak of a conductor insisted we sang from memory. Perhaps it was just laziness, or that my brain might make room for it by dislodging something I want to remember.

As for the piano, it's summer holiday time again and, like every year, I am determined to practise hard, only this time I really do mean it.  And read those books. And get those jobs done around the house...