John Legend's Sleepcast

This is how it feels when you are about to be let in on a secret, when you step gladly past the sign marked, "Closed to the public," into an empty foyer from a street damp with rain. The foyer belongs to Harmony Hall, an historic music venue whose walls have held every variety of music in its 150 years, not to mention, its many esteemed guests. Just a handful of people are given the opportunity to visit Harmony Hall after hours, and those are some of its best hours, in the quiet, when it's a space for reflection, its atmosphere resonating with all that musical history, the grand piano waiting on the stage, like a promise. A hushed anticipation builds as you cross the mosaic floor, the very same floor that has carried the feet of excited fans down through the decades, opera lovers, classic rockers, even a few comedy fans looking for a laugh. You name the genre, they've been here for it. They, too, made their way among these marble columns and walls adorned with murals towards the sweeping staircase, its red carpet flowing upwards, like a personal honor. Tonight, the lobby is quiet, and the hall is yours to explore. But before we step inside fully, let's take a brief moment for a calming wind-down exercise. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So when you're ready, let's begin. So first, get yourself comfortable. Now just bringing the attention to the breath, just noticing where you feel it in the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. We're going to be taking a deep breath in for four, holding it for four, and then breathing out for six. So are you ready? Let's begin. In for four, two, three, four. Hold it for four, two, three, four. Now breathing out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. Great. Now returning the breath to normal. The gorgeous proscenium arch and its burgundy, gold-trimmed drapes in elaborate rouged layers present the stage with great fanfare. Whatever occurs within that extravagant frame, whether it's an epic symphony or a pop star singing her heart out, or simply a stagehand collecting fallen sheet music at the end of the night, will be quite the spectacle. There's someone up there right now, in fact, a dark-haired woman in a simple black top who has been walking softly around the stage and turning to look out at the phantom audience. Even if you're an opera fan, you might not have recognized this famous soprano, who likes to keep a low profile when she's not performing. What you're...