Greater boston | june 8, 2022 | season 2022 | episode 83

>> O'Connell: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," I'M SUE O'CONNELL IN FOR JIM BRAUDE. AFTER YEARS OF STALEMATES PLAGUING CONGRESS, A COALITION LED BY THE KENNEDY

INSTITUTE IS LOOKING TO BRING BACK BIPARTISANSHIP BY WAY OF A SERIES OF DEBATES. I AM JOINED BY TWO OF THE INSTITUTE'S LEADERS AHEAD OF THEIR LAUNCH OF "THE SENATE PROJECT."

PLUS, THE BOSTON POPS CAME BACK IN-PERSON THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST SPRING CONCERT SINCE THE PANDEMIC. CONDUCTOR KEITH LOCKHART JOINS ME ON THE EXHILARATING RETURN, AND HOW YOU CAN STILL JOIN

IN THE FUN BEFORE THE SEASON'S UP. >> O'Connell: WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT AND FEELING THE EFFECTS FOR YEARS OF POLITICAL DIVISION ACROSS THE NATION, AND MOST CERTAINLY

IN CONGRESS, WHERE IT FEELS LIKE NOTHING IS EVER GETTING DONE ANYMORE. BUT THERE'S A NEW EFFORT UNDERWAY TO FIND SOME COMMON GROUND. IT'S CALLED THE SENATE PROJECT DEBATE SERIES,

AND IT KICKS OFF THIS COMING MONDAY WITH AN HOUR-LONG DEBATE BETWEEN TWO HIGH-PROFILE U.S. SENATORS FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE AISLE, VERMONT DEMOCRAT BERNIE SANDERS, AND SOUTH CAROLINA

REPUBLICAN LINDSEY GRAHAM. FOX NEWS HOST BRET BAIER WILL MODERATE, AND IT WILL STREAM LIVE ON FOX NATION. THE EFFORT IS LED BY THE EDWARD M. KENNEDY INSTITUTE, THE BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER

AND THE ORRIN G. HATCH FOUNDATION. AND I'M JOINED NOW BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE EMK INSITITUE, BRUCE PERCELAY, ALONG WITH FELLOW BOARD MEMBER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL

ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY, ANDREW CARD, WHO ALSO SERVED UNDER PRESIDENTS GEORGE W BUSH, GEORGE H.W. BUSH, AND RONALD REAGAN. WELCOME TO BHOT BOTH OF YOU, BRUCE, THIS IS SUCH A UNIQUE AND

WONDERFUL EVENT. YOU CAN DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT OF EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. ARE THEY GOING TO BE IN PERSON ACTUALLY DEBATING, AND WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO BE DEBATING. >> WELL,

THERE IS MUCH TO DEBATE I WOULD LIKE TO BACK UP AND EXPLAIN HOW THIS HAPPENED. TWO OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, TOM DASCHLE AND CHRIS DOD HAD JUST RETURNED FROM THE SENATE AND THEIR OBSERVATIONS

WERE VERY DISTURBING TO THEM. THIS IS AN INSTITUTION THAT THEY KNEW AND LOVED AND THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE IT. THE DIVISION WAS SUCH THAT THEY RAISED THE QUESTION WHAT COULD WE, THE EDWARD

KENNEDY INSTITUTE, DO ABOUT IT. AND THE IDEA CAME UP TO TAKE SENATORS FROM THE FAR RIGHT AND THE FAR LEFT AND PUT THEM IN A ROOM TOGETHER AND SEE IF THEY CAN HAVE THE SAME KIND OF CIVIL

DEBATE AND RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER THAT WAS SHOWN BY TED KENNEDY AND ORRIN HATCH YEARS AGO. AND THAT WAS THE GENESIS OF THE IDEA. BUT THE DEBATE ITSELF WILL BE DESIGNED TO FIND COMMON

GROUND, TO HAVE OPEN DISCUSSIONS, TO HAVE THE TYPE OF CIVIL DISCOURSE THAT THE SENATE DOES NOT SEE RIGHT NOW. >> O'Connell: OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS A LONG TIME,

MY MOM USED TO ALWAYS POINT TO THE SENATE AND CONGRESS SAYING SHE IS ALWAYS FIGHTING, THEY ARE ALWAYS DI AGREEING BUT THERE ALWAYS IS A MARKET CHANGE OF HOW IT USED TO BE AND HOW IT IS NOW,

IS THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS WELL. >> THE EDWARD M. KENNEDY INSTITUTE IS REALLY THE EDWARD M KEEN DE INSTITUTE FOR THE U.S. SENATE. SO IT CELEBRATES THE REMARKABLE DEMOCRACY THAT IS

PRACTICED IN OUR CONGRESS, THE UPPER BRANCH, THE U.S. SENATE. AND THIS EFFORT THAT BRUCE HAS SO CAREFULLY HOPED TO PUT TOGETHER ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ON THE BOARD AT THE EDWARD M.

KENNEDY INSTITUTE IS DESIGNED TO HELP POLISH OUR DEMOCRACY AND HIGHLIGHT THE REALITY OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE. THE EDWARD M. KENNEDY INSTITUTE HOUSES A MARKUP, A

FULL SIZE MARKUP OF THE U.S. SENATE SO ST ENTIRELY COMFORTABLE FOR THE SENATORS TO COME AND KIND OF BE AT HOME IN A U.S. SENATE BUILDING THAT LOOKS LIKE THE ONE THEY REALLY WORK IN, AND HAVE

A DEBATE. AND YOU COULDN'T ASK FOR TWO MORE POLARIZING FIGURES THAN THE TWO THAT WILL BE COMING. THEY BOTH HAVE VERY STRONG VIEWS LEFT AND RIGHT. AND I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT AMERICAN

POLITICS TODAY HAS MORE FRINGE THANKED RUG AND THEY REPRESENT THE FRINGE BUT THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF GOVERNK REQUIRES THEM TO GIVE PERMISSION TO STAND ON THE RUG EVERY ONCE IN

A WHILE. AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE WILL SEE IN THIS DEBATE. >> O'Connell: I WANT TO LOOK AT SOME INFORMATION FROM THE PE-W RESEARCH DATA FOR MARCH FROM 2022 ABOUT THE

POLARIZATION OF CONGRESS. THERE ARE NOW ONLY ABOUT TWO DOZEN MODERATE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS LEFT ON CAPITOL HILL VERSUS MORE THAN 160 IN 1971 THROUGH 72. DEMOCRATS ON AVERAGE HAVE BECOME

SOME WHAT MORE LIBERAL WHILE REPUBLICANS ON AVERAGE HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE. YOU KNOW, BRUCE, I HAVE TO SAY, I WAKES UP EVERY MORNING AND I CAN'T DECIDE IF I'M WORRIED

ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY OR IF I AM MAKING TOO BIG A DEAL OUT OF IT. MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY YESTERDAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE MED QULA IS SORT OF EXPANDING OUR DIFFERENCES

RATHER THAN TALKING ABOUT OUR THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS FROM THE PRIMARIES LAST NIGHT, IT SEEMS TO BE A MOVE OF MODERATION ON BOTH SIDES WHERE VOTERS ARE

CHOOSING MODERATE CANDIDATES BOTH ON THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS. WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE, BRUCE WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU WAKE UP EVERY MORNING? >> WELL, OUR BOARD IS A VERY

GOOD INDICATOR. WE HAVE AN ENORMOUSLY TALENTED BOARD THAT HAS PLAYED AT VERY HIGH LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. AND THE CONCERN IS VERY REAL. I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS A SNAP SHOT IN TIME I

THINK THERE ARE SOME FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE SOLVED NOW. AND IT IS VERY HARD FOR REPUBLICANS TO INTERACT WITH DEMOCRATS AND DEMOCRATS TO INTERACT WITH REPUBLICANS WITHOUT FEELING

VIL FIED BY THEIR OWN PARTY. I MEAN IT IS ALMOST AS IF THEY ARE FRAT EARNIZING WITH THE ENEMY, THAT IS NOT HOW THINGS GET DONE. AND THIS IS A DIVISION THAT I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEW.

I THINK IS DISTURBING AND I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. CLEARLY IT IS THE MOTIVATION FOR WHAT WE ARE DOING. AND WE THINK IT IS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER AS WE SAW ON

JANUARY 6th. SO IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, THIS IS NOT IMAGINARY. >> O'Connell: ANDREW, TOMORROW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SENATE HEARINGS AS BRUCE MENTIONED, THE JANUARY 6th,

CONGRESS HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS A WHOLE YEAR OR LONGER, DONE HUNDREDS OF INTERVIEWS, IF NOT MORE IT IS A BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE STRKS LEAD BY A DEMOCRAT AND A REPUBLICAN. I AM A LITTLE BIT

HOPEFUL, CAUTIOUSLY HOPEFUL THAT AT THE END OF THESE HEARINGS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS LEADING UP TO SEPTEMBER, I STHI THERE IS GOING TO BE EIGHT OF THEM. I'M HOPING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC

SEES REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE WHICH I HOPE WE CAN ALL AGREE WAS EGREGIOUS, DO YOU SHARE THAT OPTIMISM THAT THERE WILL BE GOOD RESULTS THAT COME OUT OF

THESE HEARINGS. >> I'M CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC. I WAS VERY TROUBLED WITH WHAT HAPPENED JANUARY 6th. IT WAS JUST OUT RAILINGOUS, I LITERALLY WAS WEEPING AS I SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

AND I THINK THE WORK OF THIS COMMISSION AND REMEMBER, THIS SAN UNUSUAL COMMISSION T WASN'T REALLY CREATED WITH THE SUPPORT FROM THE MINORITY PARTY. IT WAS KIND OF CHALLENGED FROM THE

MINORITY PARTY SO IT HAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT STANDING THAN OTHER COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED. BUT YES, I DO THINK THEIR WORK IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. THESE HEARINGS WILL VERY

IMPORTANT. I HOPE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION AND I HOPE THOSE WHO ARE CONDUCTING THE HEARINGS WILL BE MEASURED IN THEIR COMMENTARY SO THAT THEY DON'T, I'M GOING TO SAY

EXACERBATE THE DIVISIONS IN AMERICA. WE ARE MUCH TOO TRIBAL TODAY AND THERE REALLY SHOULD BE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6th WAS TERRIBLE FOR OUR DEMOCRACY, WAS BAD FOR

THE WORLD, AFTER ALL, THE WORLD LOOKS UP TO US TO SEE WHAT IS THE RIGHT WAY TO HAVE GOVERNANCE IN A DEMOCRACY. AND WE WERE VERY TARNISHED ON JANUARY 6th. I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT IF ENOUGH

PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION, AND THEY GIVE PERMISSION TO THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, TO TAKE A STEP LEFT OR RIGHT, DEPENDING WHERE THEY ARE STARTING, IF YOU ARE STARTING IN THE RIGHT FRINGE,

TAKE A STEP TO THE LEFT, IF ARE YOU STARTING WITH THE LEFT FRINGE, TAKE A STEP TO THE RIGHTMENT AND SEE IF YOU CAN'T HELP TO POLISH OUR DEMOCRACY. AND THE SENATE IS THE CHAMBER KNOWN

FOR HAVING THE MOST PRODUCTIVE DEBATE. AND WHAT THE EDWARD M. KENNEDY INSTITUTE FOR THE U.S. SENATE IS DOING IS HIGHLIGHTING THE VALUE OF THAT INSTITUTION OF DEMOCRACY CALLED THE SENATE AND

INVITING A RATIONAL DEBATE AROUND SOME OF THE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT ARE SO CRITICAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND QUITE FRANKLY SET AN EXAMPLE FOR THE WORLD ON WHAT DEMOCRACY SHOULD BE. >>

O'Connell: CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TED KENNEDY AND ORRIN HATCH, THE RELATIONSHIP, THE WAY THAT THINGS GOT DONE IN THE OLD EPP DAYS WITH SENATORS WHO HAD VERY DIFFERENT VIEWS,

VERY DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES BUT SHOW WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AS COLLEAGUES AND WORK TOGETHER ON ISSUES THAT BOTH THEIR CONSTITUENCIES AND THEY CARED ABOUT. >> WHAT WAS

REMARKABLE ABOUT TIS RELATIONSHIP AND THEY WERE TRULY ODD BED FELLOWS. THEY WERE SO DIFFERENT. YOU KNOW, TED KENNEDY WAS BROUGHT UP WITH-- ORRIN HATCH WAS REARED IN A RENOVATED CHICKEN

HOUSE. HE WAS FROM DEEP POVERTY. HE WAS A DEVOUT MORMON, HE OBVIOUSLY REPRESENTED A DIFFERENT PART OF THE COUNTRY, THESE WERE TWO OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD VIRTUALLY NOTHING IN COMMON. AND

WHEN HATCH STARTED OUT BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, TED KENNEDY WAS SOMEONE, THAT WAS ONE OF HIS TARGETS. AND SLOWLY BUT TRULY THEY SPENT TIME ON COMMITTEES TOGETHER, THEY GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

TED KENNEDY HAD A CONSIDERABLE CHARM AND HE MELTED THE THA-W THAT CAUSED THEM TO PRODUCE REALLY MEANINGFUL LEGISLATION. I MEAN THE CARE ACT, THE ADA, IN CHURCH PROGRAMS THERE WAS MEDICARE

PART D. THINGS THAT WERE MEANINGFUL AND THAT ARE LEGACIES TODAY. THE DIFFERENCE IS THEY COULD FIGHT LIKE CATS AND DOGS ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE DURING THE DAY AND BE SEEN HAVING DINNER

TOGETHER AT NIGHT. AND IT IS VERY HARD TO BE VITRIOLIC WITH SOMEONE WHO YOU ENJOY BEING WITH. AND THE SENATE HAS BECOME A COMMUTER INSTITUTION. JUST THE VERY ACT OF HAVING BARBECUES TOGETHER

ON WEEKENDS STO PLAYING SOFTBALL, IT CHANGES THE ENTIRE DYNAMIC. AND TODAY THAT IS NOT THE CASE. SO IT WAS A RELATIONSHIP THAT REALLY DEFIED CONVENTIONAL WISDOM BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING IT

TODAY. AND I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO WITH THE SENATE PROJECT IS TO GET LINDSEY GRAHAM AND BERNIE SANDERS TO APPRECIATE EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE, AND IT COULD

HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT. >> I'M SURE THAT IT WILL, ANDREW, ONE THING THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE IS SOCIAL MEDIA WHICH WE HAVE NOW. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE ELLEN

DEGENERES CAN'T SIT AT A FOOTBALL GAME WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT WITHOUT CATCHING HEAT FOR IT, JOE JOE BIDEN CAN'T TALK, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN CAN'T TALK ABOUT-- NICELY ABOUT A

FORMER COLLEAGUE WHO MAY, BE AT ODDS WITH CURRENT POLITICS AND MAY ACTUALLY HAVE REAL ISSUES BUT HE CAN'T SPEAK WARMLY ABOUT THAT WESTERN AS A PERSON, THESE ARE HURDLES THAT WE HAVE

THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MESSAGE TO FOLKS WHO WANT TO HAVE QUICK REACTIONS TO THINGS THAT THEY SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR WHEN THEY SEE IN THE NEWS. >> WELL,

SOCIAL MEDIA CERTAINLY HAS CHANGED THE DYNAMICS OF POLITICS. AND UNFORTUNATELY IT'S CAUSED PEOPLE TO BE-- I'M GOING TO SAY TOO QUICK IN RESPONDING. I ACTUALLY WISH PEOPLE WOULD

TAKE THE TIME TO TASTE THEIR WORDS BEFORE THEY SPIT THEM OUT. AND USE A LITTLE MORE JUDGMENT. AND RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR FIRST EMOTIONAL REACTION PROBABLY IS NOT RIGHT. AND YOU SHOULD NOT BASE

YOUR OPINION OF THE DEBATE FROM YOUR FIRST EMOTIONAL REACTION TO IT. YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY TAKE TIME AND PAUSE, LISTEN AND THEN SPEAK. AND I LIKE TO SAY TASTE YOUR WORDS BEFORE YOU SPIT THEM

OUT. MAYBE I SHOULD SAY LICK YOUR THUMBS BEFORE YOU TWEET THEM OUT. BUT WE'RE INVITING PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE STRENGTH OF OUR DEMOCRACY COMES BY HAVING PEOPLE ACTIVELY ENGAGED.

BUT WE ARE A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY AND IT IS OUR REPRESENTATIVES THAT HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO LISTEN TO US AND THEN EXERCISE JUDGMENT. YOU DO NOT EXPECT AND WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT THEM

TO FOLLOW US AS IF WE ARE COMMANDING THEM TO DO THINGS. WE'RE ACTUALLY CHALLENGING THEM TO DO THINGS AND INVITING THEM TO DO IT. BUT I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT SOCIAL MEDIA HAS

ACCELERATED THE CONVERSATIONS TO THE POINT THAT TOO MANY PEOPLE GET STUCK ON STUPID TOO EARLY. >> >> O'Connell: WE LOOK FORWARD TO A MORE MODERATE, MODERATED DEBATE ON

MONDAY OVER AT THE EDWARD M. KENNEDY INSTITUTE AND ON FOX NATION, I THANK YOU GOTH BOTH FOR JOINING, I APPRECIATED WHAT ARE YOU DOING, THANK YOU. NEXT UP, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE START

OF THE PANDEMIC, THE BOSTON POPS ARE BACK WITH AN IN-PERSON SPRING SEASON. AND WHILE WE'D ALREADY GOTTEN A TASTE OF THAT RETURN TO LIVE, IN-PERSON ORCHESTRAL MUSIC, WITH TANGLEWOOD AND

THE HOLIDAY POPS, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT SPRING SENSE OF RENEWAL AND NEW HOPE THAT FEELS FIT FOR CELEBRATION. AND THE POPS HAVE BEEN DELIVERING, WITH FITTING SONGS LIKE THIS ONE:

>> BE OUR GUEST, BE OUR GUEST OUR COMMAND IS YOUR REQUEST IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE WE HAD ANYBODY HERE AND WE'RE OBSESSED >> O'Connell: OBSESSED IS RIGHT! I'M

JOINED NOW BY NONE OTHER THAN KEITH LOCKHART. KEITH, WELCOME TO "GREATER BOSTON," SO GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN. WHAT A SPRING IN MY STEP THAT'S GIVEN ME. >> WELL, THANK

YOU, SUE, IT HAS GIVEN ALL OF US A SPRING IN OUR STEP. I CAN'T IMAGINE, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE TIME IN MY 27 YEARS WHERE EVERYBODY HAS BEEN SO HAPPY TO BE GOING BACK TO WORK, AS THIS

ORCHESTRA HAS. IT'S REALLY BEEN GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE BACK IN SYMPHONY HALL. WE'RE NOT 100 PERCENT YET. WE DON'T HAVE 100 PERCENT OF THE AUDIENCE OR SEASON BUT THINGS ARE

REALLY GOING WELL. AND PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE T IS LIKE GIVING A MAN WATTER WHO IS DYING OF THEIRS, THEY ARE JUST SO HUNGRY FOR THE MATERIAL AND SO RECEPTIVE TO WHAT THEY GET. >>

O'Connell: I WAS TALKING WITH CLIFF NOTES YESTERDAY WHO PERFORMED AT BOSTON CALLING OVER THE WEEKEND. AND HE AND I STAY IN TOUCH VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. AND HE HAS BEEN SHARING JUST THE

DIFFICULTIES OF KEEPING HIS MOOD UP AND KEEPING HIS COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS, THEIR MOODS UP DURING THIS PANDEMIC. HOW HAVE YOU, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU PLAYED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER BUT HOW HAVE

YOU AND YOUR CREW STAYED POSITIVE AND STAYED CONNECTED DURING IT? >> WELL, I THINK SPEAKING FOR MY, YOU KNOW, MY FELLOW MUSEICIANS, FELLOW PERFORMING ART IRSES, IT IS, THIS PERIOD OF

TIME OF COURSE HAS BEEN HARD ON EVERYBODY. BUT IT'S BEEN HARD ON US NOT JUST THE EXISTENTIAL CRISIS, IS THERE GOES TO BE A PERFORMING ARTS WORLD WHEN WE COME BACK OUT OF THIS. BUT EVEN

MORE, I THINK, RIGHT TO THE CORE OF WHO WE ARE. WHAT I HAVE IDENTIFIED AS THE LAST 40 YEARS WAS SOMEBODY THAT WENT OUT AND BROUGHT MUSIC TOO PEOPLE, BROUGHT THESE KIND OF LIVE EXPERIENCES TO

PEOPLE. AND HOPEFULLY LEFT THEM WITH SOMETHING SPECIAL TO TAKE AWAY. AND NOT DOING THAT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF IS REALLY UNNERVEATING, SO I THINK ALL OF US HAVE BEEN CLINGING TO THE HOPE

THAT YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS WAS ALL OVER, PEOPLE WOULD REMEMBER EVEN MORE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO US AS HUMANS TO GATHER TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY AND ENJOY THESE TOGETHER. AND SO FARES THAT SEEMS

TO BE WORKING. >> O'Connell: I ALWAYS JOKE WHENEVER YOU WATCH A MOVIE AND THEY HAVE A CONCERT SCENE, EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE IS THRILLED TO BE THERE, RIGHT, WHERE YOU KNOW IN

REAL LIFE SOMEBODY IS BEING DRAGGED AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE, SOMETHING IS HAPPENING IN THEIRLIFE, I'M SURE YOU SEE THEM, OH, HE OR SHE MADE ME CAME. >> IT IS USUALLY THE

HUSBAND WITH THE WIFE NEXT TO THEM GOING WOW, THIS IS GREAT HONEY AND THE GUY IS GOES-- . >> O'Connell: BUT I BET YOU LOOK OUT OVER THE AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW AND ARE YOU JUST SEEING

NOTHING BUT BEAMING APPRECIATIVE FACES. >> THERE IS A LOT OF-- YOU CAN FEEL KIND OF, YEAH, I'VE NEVER DEALT, AS I SAID IN 40 PLUS YEARS OF DOING THIS, I HAVE NEVER FELT SO MUCH

LOVE, AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING CORNY, SORT OF LOVE COMING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE STAGE AND THE AUDIENCE. EVERYBODY ON THE STAGE, EVEN THE MOST TRADITIONALLY GRUMPY PERFORMERS ARE LIKE

WOW, I'M REALLY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. AND THE AUDIENCES ARE LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE IT. >> LET'S TAKE A LILLIS ENAND LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT, TONY NOMINEE

CHRISTOPHER JACKSON HEADLINED THE SHOW LAST NIGHT WITH THE BOSTON POPS, BACK AGAIN TONIGHT. HERE HE IS, A LITTLE TASTE OF HIM SINGING ONE OF HIS ORIGINAL SONG, PARALYZED. >> ♪ ♪ WHOA

SNOATD. ♪ WE'RE LOSING TIME. >> O'Connell: WHAT A GREAT SEASON THUS FAR. I HAD BEEN HOPING TO GET TO EITHER THE DISNEY OR THE STAR WARS WEEK, COVID HAD OTHER PLANS FOR US.

BUT WHAT A GREAT WAY TO MOCH INTO SPRING. YOU KNOW, DISNEY MUSIC AND THAT MUSIC IS NO LONGER KID'S MUSIC ANY MORE SINCE WE WERE LISTENING TO IT WHEN WE WERE LITTLE AND NOW WE'RE

ADULTSMENT TALK ABOUT THE CHOICE OF THE SPRING CONCERT, THE SPRING MUSIC. >> WELL, WE REALLY WANTED TO PUT A SEASON THAT WAS WELCOMING TO AS MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE AS YOU POSSIBLY

COULD, ARE YOU RIGHT, THE DISNEY MATERIAL THAT I THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING ME GENEROUSLY WHEN WE WERE KIDS. I WAS A LITTLE PAST BEING A KID WHEN THE GREAT MOVIES LIKE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST AND

THE "LITTLE MERMAID" CAME OUT BUT I CERTAINLY REMEMBER THEM. AND NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BASICALLY THREE GENERATIONS THAT GREW UP ON THAT. SO IT HAS REALLY BECOME A MODERN

CLASSIC. AND IT IS LIKE THE HARRY POTTER FILMS. IT IS NOT JUST THE KIDS WHO LIKE THEM ANY MORE T IS THE PARENTS WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN DRAGGED KICKING AND SCREAMING ORIGINALLY. AND THAT IS THE

THING, HELD THROUGH, WE ARE CELEBRATING FIRST DAY JOHN WILLIAMS, THE COMPOSER OF STAR WARS, OF COURSE, AND THE HARRY POTTER MOVIES, SO WE DID TWO BACK TO BACK, HARRY POTTER AND THE

SORSER'S STONE AND THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK WHICH WERE WILLth BOTH REALLY SUCCESSFUL AND COMES OUT, PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK TO HELP CELEBRATE JOHNS' AMAZING, AS HE GOES

INTO HIS TENTH DECADE. AND THIS WEEK WE STILL HAVE, AND YOU ARE NOT TOO LATE YET, WE STILL HAVE FOUR PERFORMANCES REMAINING. ONE WITH CHRISTOPHER JACKSON AND TWO MORE WITH A PROGRAM I'M

PROUD OF FEATURING BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL. I JUST THINK WE JUST CAME BACK FROM REHEARSAL OF THAT TODAY AND I WAS SO BUOYED BY HOW GREAT THE MUSIC IS AND HOW AMAZING THE ORCHESTRA PERFORMING

IT. THEN WE CLOSE WITH GOSPEL NIGHT ON THE 11th JEURCH AND THEY WITH WILL SEE YOU 4th OF JULY AT TANGLEWOOD. >> O'Connell: SO TALK TO ME AS AN ARTIST. WHEN YOU HEAR THE MUSIC

BEING PLAYED FOR AN AUDIENCE WITH THE AUDIENCE THERE, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS DROUGHT, DOES IT, DO YOU PHYSICALLY FEEL IT DIFFERENTLY THAN MAYBE DID YOU BEFORE WHEN YOU

WERE PLAYING IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE REGULARLY? >> WELL, I THINK YOU KNOW, THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK IT IS EASIER TO ANSWER IT BY WHAT YOU DON'T FEEL WHEN YOU PERFORM IT

VIRTUALLY, WHEN THERE IS JUST CAMERAS IN AN EMPTY HALL. AS YOU DID FOR 128 MONTH-- FOR 18 MONTH, AS WE ARE USED TO WHEN WE DID RECORDINGS. BUT IN THAT SITUATION WE KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING

BACK TO LIVE PERFORMANCE AND FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE WONDERED WHETHER THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THERE IS DEFINITELY MUSICAL PERFORMANCE, ANY ARTISTIC LIVE PERFORMING ART SAY TWO WAY

STREET. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE PUT OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE TO ACCEPT, TO FEEL, TO REACT TO. AND THAT IS TRUE OF LIVE THEATER AND DANCE AS WELL. AND THE FEELING OF WHAT COMES BACK, THE LOVE,

WHATEVER WORD YOU WANT TO USE, IS PALPABLE ON STAGE AND IT IS, WHEN YOU TAKE A SHOW, NO MATTER HOW I'M GRATEFUL WE WERE ABLE TO STAY IN CONTACT AND PERFORM BUT THERE IS EMPTINESS THAT

NOTHING CAN REALLY FILL BECAUSE ARE YOU KIND OF PUTTING THOSE NOTES AND THOSE THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS OUT THERE AND NOT GETTING ANYTHING REFLECTED BACK. AND THAT IS THE THING THAT I THINK I

FEEL MOST ACUTELY NOW. THE OTHER THING I TOLD PEOPLE IS THAT YOU KNOW, NO MATTER HOW LUCKY I AM TO BE IN THIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS AND HAVE THIS PARTICULAR JOB THERE'S ALWAYS TIME WHEN

THINGS FEEL LIKE WORK, YOU KNOW. BUT I WILL NEVER GET OUT OF BED AND GO OH, I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER CONCERT TODAY IT IS GOING TO BE ALL GRATITUDE FROM HERE ON OUT, BABY.

>> O'Connell: I HEAR YOU, ABSOLUTELY HEAR YOU. SPEAKING OF GIVING BACK, I WANT TO PLAY SOMETHING AGAIN FROM LAST NIGHT, THIS SAN EXCERPT FROM, OF THE SONG LITTLE WOMEN SONG BY

NADIC HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENT LEAH STEINMAN, THE CONCERT FEATURED WINS OF THE FIDELITY INVESTMENT YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION. SHE WAS ONE OF THOSE WINNERS AND SHE RECEIVED MENTORING FROM BOTH YOU

AND ALSO CHRISTOPHER JACKSON. LET'S TAKE A LOOK. ♪ HERE I GO. ♪ THERE'S NO TURNING BACK. ♪ ♪ I'M MAY BE SLOW. ♪ BUT I HAVE GIANT PLANS. ♪ TO SHINE AS BRIGHTLY AS THE STAR.

>> O'Connell: I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS, BUT IT HAS BEEN SUCH A CHALLENGE FOR YOUNG SINGERS, NEW SINGERS TO KEEP THEIR ARTISTRY, TO DEVELOP IT, TO SEARCH IT, TO FIND

PLACES TO SING IN PERSON, IN FRONT OF AUDIENCES THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE REALLY HINDERED THAT. HOW YOU HAVE KEPT I SPIRING THESE YOUNG SINGERS TO JUST KEEP AT IT DURING THIS ADVERSITY?

>> WELL, WE HAVE THIS WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH FIDELITY NOW, FOR SP YEARS WE HAVE LOOKED THROUGHOUT MASSACHUSETTS FOR THE MOST INTERESTING, BEST YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMERS, REALLY

KIND OF IN ANY GENRE OF PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE. LAST NIGHT WE HAD FOUR OF THEM. LEAH WAS ACTUALLY THE OLDEST OF THEM AT 17. THEY RANGED DOWN TO 14. AND THEY WERE AMAZES, AMAZING MUSICIANS,

GIFTED COMMUNICATORS, THEY WERE JUST WONDERFUL. BUT I DID THINK A LOT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I HAVE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU COUNT SINCE I WAS 7, LIKE 55 YEARS OF PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE TO

LEAN BACK ON. BUT I'M COMING BACK INTO THIS, NOW REMEMBERING WHAT IT IS TO BE A PERFORMANCE-- PERFORMER, HOW, HOW ONE COULD FORCE THEMSELVES, HOW ONE DEALS WITH NERVES, ALL OF THOSE

THINGS. AND JUST LIKE NIBBLES IN THE DEVELOPMENT AS WE WORRIED ABOUT OUR KIDS COMING OUT OF THIS, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE. THEY'RE FRESH AND THIS IS CUTTING THEM

OFF AT THE KNEES AT A REALLY CRITICAL TIME IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT. SO I THINK THIS COMPETITION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. LAST YEAR WE DID IT BUT WE DID IT VIRTUALLY. THERE WAS

NO LIVE AUDIENCE FOR THEM, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT. AND WE WEREN'T EVEN ALLOWED TO ADD THE VOCALISTS ON STAGE WITH US. WE HAD TO RECORD HER VIRTUALLY. WHERE THIS YEAR, WE HAVE SOME

CONNECTIONS WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WAS JUST AMAZING. I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, LIKE-- LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, EVEN THOUGH WE WORRY ABOUT THEM THEY TEND TO BE MORE RESILIENT THAN WE DO. >>

O'Connell: I AM WONDERING, ARE YOU FEELING LIKE INVIGORATED AND NILLED WITH GUSTO AND READY TO GO, ARE WE LOOKING AT ANOTHER 40 YEARS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LOCK STEP AHEAD OF US, WILL WE

GET UP TO THE-- NUMBERS, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? >> AT 27 YEARS WITH THE BOSS TO BE POPS I'M ALREADY AT THE NUMBER TWO POSITION AND THAT IS KIND OF LAUGHABLE BECAUSE I AM STILL 23

YEARS AWAY FROM CATCHING THE LEADER. SO HE LAPPED ME A FEW TIMES. I HAVE TO SAY I AM AT THE DARKEST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC I SAID TO MYSELF GEE, I DON'T KNOW. IF I WERE TEN YEARS OLDER I

WOULD JUST KIND OF SAY IT'S TIME, IT WOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO RETIRE. IF I WERE TEN YEARS YOUNGER I WOULD BE JUMPING OUT OF BED AND LEADING THE TROOPS, LEADING THE CHARGE. AND AS IT

WAS, I'M SOMEWHERE IN THAT MIDDLE POSITION BUT HAVING COME OUT ON THE OTHER END, I FEEL LIKE HOW MUCH I MISSED IT AND HOW WONDERFUL IT STILL FEELS TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION. I THINK IT

REINVIGORATED ME BUT I CAN PRETTY MUCH SAY THIS ON THE AIR, I WILL NOT MATCH ANY OF THOSE RECORDS BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT 50 YEARS IN THE SAME POSITION IS GOOD FOR EITHER THE PERSON

OR THE INSTITUTION. >> O'Connell: WE'LL CHECK BACK, I WILL WRITE THAT DOWN AND CHECK BACK. >> ASK ME IN ANOTHER FIVE YEARS. >> O'Connell: I WILL INDEED,

KEITH LOCKHART THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, GREAT TO SEE YOU VIRTUALLY. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE NEW PERSON, THANK YOU. >> GREAT TO TALK TO YOU, SUE, TAKE CARE. >>

O'Connell: THE BOSTON POPS SPRING SEASON IS WRAPPING UP THIS SATURDAY, BUT YOU CAN HEAD TO bso.org FOR MORE DETAILS AND TICKETS. THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT HOW B.U. MEDICAL SCHOOL IS TAPPING INTO LOCAL TEEN ADVISERS TO BETTER ADDRESS HEALTH INEQUITIES IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00. THANKS FOR

WATCHING. AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU NOW WITH A LITTLE MORE FROM THE BOSTON POPS. (MUSIC PLAYING) POPS. ( MUSIC PLAYING ) Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org ♪ WHILE THE

CANDLE LIGHT IS GROWING. ♪ THEY'LL HELP YOU CLEARLY GOING. ♪ UP WITH BY ONE. ♪ ♪ TONIGHT YOU'LL PROP YOUR FEET UP. ♪ BUT FOR NOW LET'S EAT UP. ♪ BE OUR GUEST. ♪ BE OUR GUEST.

♪ BE OUR GUEST. ♪ PLEASE BE OUR GUEST. ♪ ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )