>> BRAUDE: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," ASSISTANT HOUSE SPEAKER, CONGRESSWOMAN KATHERINE CLARK, JOINS ME ON THE PUSH FOR UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE, VOTING RIGHTS PROTECTIONS AND WHETHER THAT OR ANYTHING ELSE WILL GET PAST REPUBLICANS-- AND JOE MANCHIN-- IN THE SENATE.

THEN, LATER, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, MARK VOLPE, WHO IS STEPPING DOWN NEXT WEEK, ON TWO-PLUS DECADES WITH AMERICA'S GREATEST ORCHESTRAS.

>> BRAUDE: I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY, WHEN IT COMES TO A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, JOE BIDEN AND THE HOUSE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE, SWIFTLY PASSING EVERYTHING FROM NEW GUN CONTROL MEASURES; TO EXPANSION AND STRENGTHENING OF BACKGROUND CHECKS; TO AN IMMIGRATION BILL THAT WOULD CREATE A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS BROUGHT TO THE U.S. AS CHILDREN; TWO SWEEPING VOTING RIGHTS BILLS-- THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT, AND H.R.1, SOMETIMES CALLED THE "FOR THE PEOPLE ACT"; AND THE GEORGE FLOYD "JUSTICE IN POLICING" ACT.

BUT, IN THE SENATE?

NOT SO MUCH.

AND IT'S NOT JUST REPUBLICANS BLOCKING THOSE BILLS.

A FELLOW DEMOCRAT IS STANDING IN THE WAY, TOO.

THAT WOULD BE WEST VIRGINIA SENATOR JOE MANCHIN, WHO OPPOSES HIS PARTY ABOLISHING THE FILIBUSTER WHICH WOULD ALLOW BILLS TO PASS WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY, LETTING DEMOCRATS "GO IT ALONE" WITHOUT ANY REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

>> I'VE ALWAYS WORKED IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, AND I VOTED IN A BIPARTISAN WAY IN THE LAST 10 YEARS OF THE SENATE.

SO, I'M DOING WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS DONE.

>> BRAUDE: BUT WITH REPUBLICANS SO FAR UNWILLING TO BUDGE ON ALMOST ANYTHING, GOING IT ALONE MAY BE THE ONLY WAY FORWARD.

WILL THE DEMOCRATS TAKE IT?

I'M JOINED BY ASSISTANT HOUSE SPEAKER KATHERINE CLARK, REPRESENTING THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CONGRESSWOMAN, GREAT TO SEE YOU, AS ALWAYS.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, JIM.

>> Braude: SO, CONGRESSWOMAN, THOSE BILLS THAT PASSED THE HOUSE AND OTHERS HAVE WILDLY STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT, BUT FROM A FEW HUNDRED MILES AWAY, SEEMS WITH UNIVERSAL G.O.P.

OPPOSITION AND THE STANCE SENATOR MANCHIN HAS TAKEN, THEY ARE DEAD IN THE SENATE.

AM I WRONG?

>> JIM, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT THESE BILLS THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED ARE WILDLY BIPARTISAN.

EVERY SINGLE PLACE IN THIS COUNTRY, EXCEPT IN THE BELTWAY.

AND, SO, WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT AS THE MANDATE THAT WE WERE GIVEN AS DEMOCRATS IN 2020 TO BE BOLD, TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT LEAVE THIS MOMENT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WE ARE IN A MOMENT OF RACIAL, ECONOMIC AND CLIMATE JUSTICE, AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES AS FUNDAMENTAL AND AS WIDELY SUPPORTED BY AMERICANS AS GETTING CORRUPTION OUT OF POLITICS AND PROTECTING THAT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO VOTE, WE SIMPLY CAN'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER, AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIND A PATH FORWARD BECAUSE THE FRAGILITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY HAS BEEN SHOWN, AND WE HAVE TO ENTER THIS MOMENT AND PROTECT IT.

>> Braude: WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?

EVEN THOUGH SENATOR MANCHIN HAS SAID HE SUPPORTS THE JOHN LEWIS ACT -- AND I KNOW THAT CONGRESSMAN LEWIS WAS A GREAT FRIEND OF YOURS, AFTER A LIFETIME OF JUST INCREDIBLE WORK -- HE SUPPORTS THAT, BUT HE DOESN'T SUPPORT GETTING RID OF THE FILIBUSTER, WHICH MEANS EVEN WITH HIS VOTE IT WON'T REACH 60.

HE DOESN'T SUPPORT THE "FOR THE PEOPLE" ACT WHICH WOULD HELP NULLIFY THESE GO DESK VOTER SUPPRESSION LAWS THAT PASSED IN A DOZEN-PLUS STATES AND BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE AND SO MANY OTHERS, SO IS THAT NOT WISHFUL THINKING ON YOUR PART?

WHAT IS THE PATH TO PASSAGE IN THE SENATE WITHOUT TEN REPUBLICANS AND JOE MANCHIN?

>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I DO BELIEVE THAT JOE MANCHIN HAS ALSO SAID, AND I BELIEVE HIM, THAT HE WANTS TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE, AND WE CAN NEVER UNDERESTIMATE PUBLIC SENTIMENT.

I WATCHED IT HAPPEN WITH THE A.C.A.

YOU KNOW, WHEN THE HEALTHCARE WAS BEING THREATENED FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, AND I LITERALLY COULD WALK THE HALLS OF THE OFFICE BUILDINGS IN WASHINGTON AND HEAR THE PHONES RINGING, AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT SAME PHENOMENON WITH THESE VOTING RIGHTS BILLS.

PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS AT STAKE, AND THAT WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY FORWARD.

SO IT HAS TO BE BOTH OF THESE BILLS BECAUSE THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT IS WHAT YOU DO TO PREVENT VOTER SUPPRESSION AND OPPRESSION.

AND H.R.-1 THE FOR THE PEOPLE ACT, IS HOW WE CURE THE VOTER SUPPRESSION LAWS THAT ALREADY HAVE BEEN PASSED.

SO WE NEED BOTH TOGETHER.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS USE PUBLIC OPINION, USE THAT SENTIMENT TO GET TO JOE MANCHIN BECAUSE I SIMPLY DON'T SEE REPUBLICANS, AT THIS MOMENT, WHEN THEY ARE STILL BOUGHT IN TO THE BIG LIE AROUND OUR ELECTIONS, COMING TO HELP.

SO CHUCK SCHUMER SAID IT TODAY, HE WILL GIVE JOE MANCHIN A LITTLE TIME TO BRING THOSE TEN VOTES.

BUT WE ALSO NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE FILIBUSTER, ALSO FROM THE JIM CROW ERA, ITS TIME HAS COME AND GONE.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN USED AS A BARRIER FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO LET IT BE THAT BARRIER FOR MOVING FORWARD AND PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> Braude: IF I CAN STAY WITH MY NEGATIVITY IN THE FACE OF YOUR OPTIMISM, CONGRESSWOMAN, IT WASN'T TO ME THE FINAL CLUE THAT BIPARTISANSHIP IS DEAD FOR AT LEAST THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE IS NOT JUST THAT THE JANUARY SIXTH COMMISSION ENGENDERED VIRTUALLY NO REPUBLICAN SUPPORT, BUT THE THING THAT PUT ME OVER THE EDGE, MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW MIKE PENCE HAS A BROTHER WHO SERVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MIKE PENCE'S BROTHER VOTED AGAINST A COMMISSION TO LOOK INTO AN INSURRECTION WHERE INSURRECTIONISTS WERE SAYING "HANG MIKE PENCE," HIS BROTHER.

AND IF YOU WILL EXCUSE THE EXPRESSION, HERE'S THE MORONIC LINE FROM YOUR COLLEAGUE GREG PENCE, TALKING ABOUT WEIRD WORDS, HANGING JUDGE NANCY PELOSI IS HELL BENT ON PUSHING HER VERSION OF PARTISAN -- I DON'T EVEN WANT TO READ IT.

HE'S AGAINST THIS THING.

WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS THE HOUSE CAN DO SOMETHING HERE EVEN WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM THE SENATE.

THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS CAN ADVANCE A SELECT COMMITTEE THAT CAN INVESTIGATE.

ARE THEY GOING TO DO THIS?

ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS?

>> LISTEN, WE HAVE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO MEMORIALIZE THE TRUTH BECAUSE WHAT WE SAW ON JANUARY 6th WAS NOT JUST AN ATTACK ON OUR CAPITOL BUT AN ATTACK ON THE FUNDAMENTAL VOTE THAT IS THE KEY TO MAINTAINING A DEMOCRACY.

SO, LISTEN, IT WAS FLABBERGASTING TO SEE COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE, LIKE CONGRESSMAN PENCE, WHEN HIS OWN BROTHER WAS BEING HUNTED DOWN IN THE CAPITOL SAYING, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO GET TO THE TRUTH OF THIS, WE DON'T WANT A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION.

IT WAS ALSO DANGEROUS AND ALARMING TO SEE THAT A 54-35 VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE COMMISSION WAS A FAILING VOTE.

SO IT SHOWS US THAT WE HAVE TO DO TWO THINGS -- YOU KNOW, I AM WILLING TO GO ALONG IF THE MAJORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE WANTS TO BRING THIS UP FOR ANOTHER VOTE, SEE IF HE CAN FIND IT, BUT I THINK THE REPS HAVE SHOWN US OVER AND OVER AGAIN THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THE TRUTH, THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN PURSUING FACTS, THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THEIR ALLEGIANCE IS TO DONALD TRUMP AND PERPETUATING THAT LIE.

SO WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER PROCEDURAL FORM IT TAKES THAT THE TRUTH IS MEMORIALIZED AND THAT PEOPLE HAVE FAITH IN THAT OUTCOME AND THAT REPORT OF WHAT LED UP TO IT AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PROSPECT OUR DEMOCRACY GOING FORWARD.

>> Braude: CATH KATHERINE CLARK, I KNOW MAKING CHILDCARE AFFORDABLE IS ONE OF YOUR GOALS AND WITH UNIVERSALS PRE-K MAKES UP A QUARTER OF $1.8 TRILLION IN THE AMERICAN FAMILY PLAN JOE R. BIDEN PROPOSED, BUT ONCE AGAIN BARNEY FRANK SAID REPUBLICANS BELIEVE LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION AND ENDS AT BIRTH.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WHICH WAS ALWAYS THE FAMILY VALUES PLAN, WILL THERE BE VOTES IN FOR THIS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SINCE JOE BIDEN WANTS TO RAISE THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX, WILL THERE BE ANY SUPPORT?

>> LET'S BACK UP.

I PROPOSED $50 BILLION TO STABILIZE CHILDCARE A YEAR AGO.

>> Braude: I SAW THAT.

CHILDCARE IS JUST COLLAPSING.

IT OPERATES ON THE THINNEST OF MARGINS AND THE BEST OF TIMES AND THE PANDEMIC WAS THE WORST OF TIMES.

THAT MONEY GOT PASSED IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WITHOUT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTE.

WE ALSO GOT MONEY FOR VACCINES.

SO WE NOW HAVE THE MOST VACCINATED PEOPLE IN THE WORLD IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT WAS MONEY FOR REOPENING SCHOOLS.

IT WAS MONEY FOR INVESTING IN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO GET OUR MAIN STREETS OPERATING AGAIN, NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTE.

SO WE ARE NOT WAITING FOR THEM.

I THINK YOU'VE DESCRIBED IT EARLIER THAT I HAVE OPTIMISM.

I HAVE RESOLVE.

WE HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS.

IF WE WANT TO TURN AROUND THE ECONOMIC SITUATION FOR WOMEN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REVERSING THIS 33-YEAR LOW OF WOMEN PARTICIPATING IN THE WORKFORCE THAT WE KNOW IS BECAUSE OF CHILDCARE AND SCHOOL CLOSURES, WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS INVESTMENT.

IT IS LONG PAST TIME THAT WE, YOU KNOW, STOP BUILDING AN ECONOMY BASED ON THE UNDERPAID OR NO PAID WAGES OF WOMEN AND THAT WE MAKE THIS INVESTMENT IN THE AMERICAN FAMILY, AND REDEFINE CHILDCARE NOT JUST AS A PRIVATE DECISION BETWEEN A PARENT AND A PROVIDER BUT AS THE PUBLIC GOOD, AS THAT TRANSFORMATIVE CARE THAT ALLOWS PARENTS AND ESPECIALLY WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR ECONOMY AND GIVES OUR KIDS A GREAT START.

>> BY THE WAY, I SHOULD NOTE TO UPDATE PEOPLE, THE FIRST FILIBUSTER BY THE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE WAS ON THE COMMISSION.

THE SECOND FILIBUSTER WAS ON A BILL THAT WOULD COMBAT PAY DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND LGBTQ WORKERS IN THE WORKPLACE AND SAYING, THE OTHER DAY WE WOKE UP AND READ THAT PEOPLE LIKE JEFF BEZOS, ELON MUSK, GEORGE SOROS, PAID NOTHING IN INCOME TAXES, EVEN THOUGH THEY DO PRETTY WELL MOST YEARS.

BACK IN MASSACHUSETTS, THERE IS AN EFFORT THAT WAS APPROVED FOR THE BALLOT YESTERDAY IN NOVEMBER OF 2022 TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE INEQUITIES CALLED THE FAIR SHARE AMENDMENT, THE MILLIONAIRE'S TAX, ADDING A SURTAX ON ALL INCOME FOR PEOPLE WHO MAKE MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

DO YOU WANT SUPPORT THAT, CONGRESSWOMAN?

>> I DO.

I SUPPORTED IT WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND I SUPPORT IT TODAY AND I SUPPORT IT LOOKING AT THE FEDERAL TAX CODE AS WELL.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TAX CODE IS BALANCED AGAIN AND THAT MIDDLE CLASS AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ARE NOT PAYING FOR VERY WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO, TOO OFTEN, GET A FREE RIDE.

THIS IS PART OF THE INCOME INEQUALITY THAT WE SEE.

THIS IS PART OF THE WEALTH DIVIDE THAT WE SEE.

AND IT IS PART OF MEETING THIS MOMENT OF RACIAL RECKONING IN OUR COUNTRY.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW ALL OF THESE ISSUES INTERSECT.

AND WHILE WE HAVE THIS TIME TO HAVE TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD AN ECONOMY THAT INCLUDES EVERYBODY, AND WE CAN PAY FOR IT BY MAKING THE VERY WEALTHIEST INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

>> Braude: BEFORE YOU GO, CONGRESSWOMAN, I ONLY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT, SO IT'S GOT TO BE QUICK -- THREE YEARS AGO, NANCY PELOSI CUT A DEAL TO STAY AS SPEAKER IN RETURN FOR WHICH SHE AGREED TO STEP DOWN AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR.

IS SHE GOING TO HONOR THAT COMPLIMENT?

YOU'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO HER, IS SHE GOING TO HONOR IT?

>> YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT NANCY PELOSI STAYS FOR AS LONG AS SHE WOULD LIKE TO.

>> Braude: THAT WASN'T MY QUESTION.

IS SHE GOING TO HONOR IT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK NANCY IS A PERSON OF HER WORD AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT SHE HAS NOT SHARED PLANS WITH US, BUT I THINK THAT IF THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT SHE PLANS TO HONOR THAT.

>> Braude: IF SHE HONORS IT, WILL YOU BE A CANDIDATE?

>> HERE'S WHAT I CAN TELL YOU, THAT I NEVER SAW MYSELF IN CONGRESS, NEVERMIND IN LEADERSHIP.

BUT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WHATEVER I CAN DO TO MOVE THESE ISSUES FORWARD, AND WE HAVE A GOOD TEAM, BUT IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHEN WE HAVE WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AT THE LEADERSHIP TABLE, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHATEVER IRK TO HELP US -- WHATEVER I CAN TO HELP US GET BACK ON TRACK, SEE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND MAKE SHARETHEIR ISSUES A PRIORITY IN CONGRESS.

>> Braude: I'LL TAKE THAT AS A QUALIFIED YES.

CONGRESSWOMAN GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU YOU, JIM.

>> Braude: IT'S AN END OF AN ERA FOR THE BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

IN A LITTLE OVER A WEEK, LONGTIME PRESIDENT, C.E.O.

AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, MARK VOLPE, IS STEPPING DOWN AFTER NEARLY A QUARTER CENTURY WITH THE ORCHESTRA, MAKING HIM THE SECOND LONGEST-SERVING EXECUTIVE IN B.S.O.

HISTORY.

AND IN THAT TIME, HE'S ACCOMPLISHED A WHOLE HELL OF A LOT.

YOU READY?

MARK HAS OVERSEEN MORE THAN $766 MILLION IN FUNDRAISING A MASSIVE 125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE BOSTON POPS A 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF FAMED COMPOSER LEONARD BERNSTEIN'S BIRTH, AND BOSTON POPS PERFORMANCES AT THE SUPER BOWL, THE N.B.A.

FINALS, AND THREE WORLD SERIES, AND, OF COURSE THE ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.

PLUS, IN 2019, AFTER THE TANGLEWOOD FOREVER CAMPAIGN RAISED MORE THAN $70 MILLION, MARK LAUNCHED A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE LONGTIME B.S.O.

SUMMER HOME IN THE BERKSHIRES, DEVELOPING A NEW MULTI-USE, MULTI-SEASON COMPLEX TO MAKE USE OF THE VENUE YEAR-ROUND.

STAY WITH ME, THERE'S MORE.

MARK ALSO EXPANDED B.S.O.

TOURS ACROSS EUROPE AND ASIA, HELPED FURTHER THE B.S.O.

'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT TANGLEWOOD, OVERSAW THE INITIATION OF B.S.O.

CONDUCTOR AND MUSIC DIRECTOR ANDRIS NELSONS, AND HELPED LAUNCH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GEWANDHAUS ORCHESTRA IN LEIPZIG, GERMANY.

AND EXPANDED THE ORCHESTRA'S SLATE OF COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING "TANGLEWOOD IN THE CITY: PITTSFIELD"; "TANGLEWOOD IN THE CITY: BOSTON"; SUMMER SUNDAYS; FAMILY FUN NIGHT; PLUS, FREE SHOWS ON THE BOSTON COMMON AND DORCHESTER'S FRANKLIN PARK.

ALL RIGHT, I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE SO THAT HE DOESN'T RETIRE BEFORE I INTRODUCE HIM.

MARK VOLPE JOINS ME NOW.

HE'S RETIRING IN TEN DAYS.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU, JIM.

AS I WAS VISITING WITH A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE ACADEMIC WORLD, I THINK I SHARED THIS WITH THE "TIMES," I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR, I THINK, THREE M.I.T.

PRESIDENTS, FOUR B.U.

PRESIDENTS AND ACTUALLY SAT FOR FOUR HARVARD PRESIDENTS.

LARRY CALLED ME AND SAID, NO, TWO INTERIM PRESIDENTS SO THAT'S ACTUALLY SIX.

SO I THINK IT'S TIME, JIM.

>> Braude: WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT SERVING THROUGH PRESIDENTS, YOU ALSO SERVED THROUGH DONALD TRUMP, AN INSURRECTION, A MARATHON BOMBING.

I HAVE LEARNED IN THIS TIME THAT MUSIC AND IN THIS TOWN PARTICULARLY THE B.S.O.

OCCUPIES A SPECIAL PLACE IN TIMES OF PAIN AND TURMOIL.

NO?

>> I THINK THE PANDEMIC WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WHAT WE DO TO PROVIDE SOLACE, INSPIRATION, OCCASIONALLY ENTERTAINMENT TO THE BROADER PUBLIC.

YOU THINK IN THE KENNEDY ASSASSINATION, THERE WAS A CONCERT GOING ON, THEY STOPPED THE CONCERT, THEY PLAYED THE FUNERAL MARCH FROM BEETHOVEN'S THIRD SYMPHONY.

IT WAS BROADCAST THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

9/11 HAPPENS, OUR GROUP GOES AND PLACE, BOTH CRUISES WERE BOSTON BASED, THE MEMORIAL SERVICE WITH BETTE MIDLER FOR THE FLIGHT CREWS.

EVERY TIME THERE'S BEEN A SOCIAL UPHEAVAL, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE, IN YOU WILL, TO -- AND THE PANDEMIC IS THE FIRST TIME THAT INITIALLY SORT OF SHUT IT DOWN, AND THEN WE QUICKLY PIVOTED TO BECOME A MEDIA COMPANY AND WERE ABLE TO DISSEMINATE CONTENT, AND OUR CONTENT ON OUR BSO PLATFORMS AVAILABLE SIX CONTINENTS, OVER 100 COUNTRIES, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST OUR AUDIENCES IN BOSTON AND TANGLEWOOD ARE WHAT WE'RE MOST CONCERNED WITH.

>> Braude: THINGS LIKE THE B.S.O.

AND STREAMING AND LIBRARY, ARE THEY GOING TO STICK AROUND POST-PANDEMIC AS THE ORCHESTRA ADAPTS TO A CHANGING AND ENTERTAINMENT LANDSCAPE?

>> YEAH, THAT'S AN INCREDIBLY ASTUTE QUESTION.

I SEE GOING FORWARD -- YOU CAN'T REPLICATE THE LIVE EXPERIENCE.

>> Braude: OF COURSE.

YOU SEE AT FENWAY, GILLETTE, PEOPLE WOULD BE MUCH BETTER IN TERMS OF ANGLES OF VIEWING SITTING IN FRONT OF THEIR BIG-SCREEN TV, BUT YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THAT DYNAMIC, AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING FOR A MOMENT WE CAN REPLICATE THAT WITH DIGITAL DISSEMINATION, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS REACH MILLIONS MORE.

I MEAN, THE IRONY OF THIS PANDEMIC IS THAT WE'VE REACHED MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY -- YOU KNOW, MAYBE A MILLION, TWO MILLION, THREE EXPERIENCED THE BOSTON SYMPHONY AND IN THIS PANDEMIC IT'S BEEN MULTIPLE THAT.

>> Braude: IN EVERY EXIT INTERVIEW YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SAY WHAT'S THE FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB BUT I'M GOING TO ANSWER IT FOR YOU BECAUSE I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER, I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO SIT NEAR YOU ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHEN THE ORCHESTRA IS PLAYING AND I WATCH YOU MORE THAN I SHOULD.

YOU WERE TOTALLY TRANSFIXED.

I'M GUESSING THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS LISTENING TO THE MUSIC.

IS THAT THE RIGHT ANSWER?

>> WELL, LISTENING TO THE MUSIC PERFORMED BY THE GREATEST MUSICIANS IN THE WORLD, INSPIRED BY ONE OF THE GREAT CONDUCTORS OF THE WORLD IN ONE OF THE GREAT HALLS OF THE WORLD, ONE OF THE GREAT FESTIVALS OF THE WORLD, SO I HAVE FELT ABSOLUTELY PRIVILEGED AND BLESSED TO HAVE THIS JOB AND HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, WORK FOR ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Braude: MARK, WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE LEAVING, WE DECIDED TO DO PERSON ON THE STREET INTERVIEWS TO SEE WHAT THEIR REFLECTION WAS ON YOUR 23 YEARS OF SERVICE AND HERE'S THE FIRST GUY WE ENCOUNTERED.

HERE HE IS.

>> HI DEAR JIM, HI DEAR MARK.

I AM SURE YOU CAN SEE ME.

I CAN'T SEE YOU.

BUT I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THIS WONDERFUL VENUE.

WELL, I WOULD NEVER, NEVER WOULD THINK THAT THIS DAY FOR MARK AS LEAVING US AS C.E.O.

WILL COME SO QUICKLY.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THE MANAGER OF AN OPEN ORCHESTRA WITH SUCH QUALITIES TOGETHER.

A GREAT HUMAN BEING, GREAT FRIEND, GREAT PROFESSIONAL, AND THE PERSON WHO REALLY LOVES THE ORCHESTRA.

>> Braude: AND THEN WE FOUND ONE MORE GUY, MARK, WHO I JUST WANTED TO HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT YOU.

HERE HE IS.

>> I'VE KNOWN MARK VOLPE NOW FOR NEARLY A QUARTER OF A CENTURY, BUT I DON'T THINK I EVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD HIS VALUE TO THIS ORGANIZATION COMPLETELY UNTIL THE EVENTS OF THIS LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

MY YOUNGEST CHILD, MY NINE-YEAR-OLD -- I WAS TALKING TO MY KIDS ABOUT GETTING A NEW C.E.O.

AT THE BOSTON SYMPHONY, AND THEY ASKED A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

AND THEY SAID, "DO WE KNOW MARK?"

AND THEN, MY NINE-YEAR-OLD PIPED UP AND SAID, "YEAH, HE'S THE GUY.

-- THE GUY WHO WAS SHOOTING HOOPS WITH ME IN OUR DRIVEWAY JUST BEFORE THE FOURTH OF JULY POLICE ESCORT TOOK DAD AWAY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO."

AND THAT WAS HIM.

THAT WAS MARK VOLPE, LEADING ARTS ADMINISTRATOR AND AMATEUR BASKETBALL PLAYER.

GOOD LUCK, MARK.

THANK YOU.

>> Braude: AMAZING HOW MUCH HE LOOKS LIKE KEITH LOCKHART.

>> THEY'RE GREAT KIDS.

GO PLAY A 7-FOOT BASKET, THE REVERSE SLAM, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT ON A TEN-FOOT BASKETBALL NET YET.

I STILL NEED TEAM TO GET MY VERTICAL GOING.

>> Braude: YOU HIRED ANDRIS NELSON AND KEITH WAS THERE BEFORE YOU.

GIVE ME A MINUTE ON BOTH OF THEM.

>> STARTING WITH ANDRIS, WE KNEW SOMETHING WAS INCREDIBLY SPECIAL THE FIRST TIME HE WAS ON THE PODIUM AND HIS FIRST CONCERT WAS AT CARNEGIE, REPLACED JIM LEVINE, WHO WAS PHYSICALLY UNABLE, AND YOU KNEW THAT INCREDIBLE PERSONALITY, THAT INCREDIBLE HUMANNESS AND GREAT, GREAT MUSICAL SOPHISTICATION AND, SO, WE KNEW THAT HE WAS UNIQUE AND THAT THE PARTNERSHIP WAS ONE THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY BE ONE FOR THE AGES.

IN TERMS OF KEITH, I MEAN, HE DEFINES POPS, HE DEFINES WHAT THE IDIOM IS FOR NOT JUST BOSTON BUT FOR THE COUNTRY.

HE HAD AN ENERGY.

THE MOST AMAZING THING ABOUT KEITH, BEYOND TALENT AND INCREDIBLE INTELLIGENCE, THE FIRST SHOW, THE NINTH SHOW, THE 13th SHOW, THE 23rd SHOW, THE 33rd SHOW, THE 43rd SHOW OF THE HOLIDAY POPS, HE BRINGS THE SAME LEVEL OF COMMITMENT, ENERGY, EXCITEMENT, BECAUSE HE KNOWS, FOR A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES, IT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> Braude: OF COURSE.

AFTER 41 SHOWS YOU GO, OKAY, YOU KNOW, I'LL CALL IT IN.

THAT'S NOT KEITH.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, MARK, IN ADDITION TO THE PANDEMIC NIGHTMARE OF THIS YEAR, OBVIOUSLY GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED, THERE'S BEEN A RACIAL RECKONING, AND I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS HAVE NEEDED ADD RACIAL RECKONING.

HAVE YOU MADE PROGRESS, DO YOU THINK, ON THAT FRONT AS WELL?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, PERSONALLY, THE DAY I LEAVE, I FLY TO MINNEAPOLIS, AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS MY BROTHER AND I ARE DOING IS GOING TO THE FLOYD MEMORIAL.

I'M A NATIVE OF MINNEAPOLIS, SO THAT RESONATES, YOU KNOW, AND I GREW UP THERE AND WENT BACK, WAS MY DAD'S BOSS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN I WAS THERE.

THERE WAS MY HOME.

SO CERTAINLY THERE'S MUCH TO BE DONE.

I DON'T WANT TO BE PREMATURELY DECLARING VICTORY BUT IT HAS SHAPED SOME OF OUR PROGRAMMING, ON OUR WEB SITE FORUM.

IT HAS IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE ARTISTS AND HOW WE'RE DEALING WITH IT AT THE STAFF, THE GOVERNOR'S LEVEL, THE BOARD LEVEL.

WE ARE CREATING A FELLOWSHIP, YOU KNOW, FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR TO HAVE THE TANGLEWOOD EXPERIENCE AND THEN PLAY IN THE ORCHESTRA AND GET COACHED AND MENTORED, AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN TRYING TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, SYSTEMIC RACISM WHICH IS PERVASIVE IN THIS COUNTRY AND CERTAINLY THE ORCHESTRA FEELS IS NOT UNIQUE IN HAVING TO GRAPPLE WITH IT BUT WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO.

>> Braude: SO, MARK, I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT ANDRIS NELSON IS A BETTER TRUMPET PLAYER THAN HE WAS WHEN HE JOINED THE B.S.O.

BECAUSE HIS FIRST PUBLIC PERFORMANCE WITH TOM ROLF WAS ON MY SHOW.

THE KEY QUESTION, ARE YOU ANY BETTER WITH A CLARINET AFTER 23 YEARS WITH THE GREATEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD?

>> NO, I'VE GONE THE OTHER DIRECTION.

(LAUGHTER) MY FAREWELL AT THE BALTIMORE SYMPHONY IN '89, I PLAYED WITH THE ORCHESTRA.

I WOULDN'T BEGIN TO EXPLORE THAT POSSIBILITY WITH THIS ORCHESTRA.

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A DIFFERENT LEVEL, BUT, BEYOND THAT, IT'S NOT SOMETHING -- I HAVE TOO MUCH RESPECT FOR THE ORCHESTRA TO EMBARRASS THEM BY HAVING TO PUT UP WITH ME PLAYING THE CLARINET.

>> Braude: AN HONEST MAN.

FINALLY, WHAT'S NEXT OTHER THAN THE FLIGHT TO MINNEAPOLIS, TIME WITH YOUR BROTHER, WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU, MARK VOLPE?

>> I'M EXPLORING A WHOLE VARIETY OF POSSIBILITIES WITH ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND HERE LOCALLY, BUT ALSO RIGHT NOW IN THREE DIFFERENT TIME ZONES.

I HAVE PROJECTS IN ASIA AND EUROPE.

RIGHT NOW, I WAS TALKING TO THE GANG, THEY'RE AMAZING, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE OLYMPICS THERE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEY'RE FIVE PERCENT, MAYBE SIX VACCINATED.

>> Braude: I KNOW THAT.

I HAVE SOMETHING TO DO THERE, BUT WE'VE FULLY VACCINATED BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO THAT ENVIRONMENT AND LIKEWISE WITH -- AND THERE ARE A FEW OTHER THINGS I HAVE GOING.

I DON'T WANT TO BE WORKING 80 HOURS A WEEK, 51 WEEKS A YEAR.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TIME TRAVELING AND NOT WITH 150 PEOPLE AND BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR 150 PEOPLE.

SO WE HAVE FAMILY I WANT TO RECONNECT WITH A LITTLE BIT -- EXTENDED FAMILY, THAT IS -- AND GO FROM THERE.

>> Braude: WELL, I TELL YOU, ALL OF US ARE INCREDIBLY LUCKY YOU WORKED THOSE HOURS WITH THAT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT FOR 23 YEARS.

MARK, I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR SPENDING TIME WITH ME TONIGHT.

>> GREAT PLEASURE, JIM, AS ALWAYS.

>> Braude: FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE B.S.O.

SUMMER PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE AND HOW TO GET TICKETS, VISIT WWW.BSO.ORG.

FINALLY, A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN SENDING IN DURING THESE PANDEMIC TIMES.

SHEILA SENT IN THESE IMAGES OF A CORONAVIRUS MODEL SHE CLEVERLY MADE OUT OF PEEPS!

JANET TOOK AN IMAGE OF A LOVELY PAINTING SHE CREATED ON THE BEACH.

BEAUTIFUL WORK, JANET.

AND JANE TOLD US ABOUT THIS NEW ART EXHIBIT AT THE RIVERWAY PARK THAT SHE SAID WAS INSPIRED BY REOPENING AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

THIS ONE IS TITLED "ONE DOOR CLOSES, ANOTHER DOOR OPEN."

THANK YOU ALL FOR SENDING THESE IN.

AS ALWAYS, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE, PLEASE SEND IT TO THE ADDRESSES ON YOUR SCREEN.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW FOR "BEAT THE PRESS."

EMILY ROONEY AND HER PANEL WILL TAKE UP C-SPAN GIVING TRUMP AIRTIME TO FURTHER HIS ELECTION LIES.

PLUS, JULIAN ASSANGE'S FAMILY IS ON A WORLDWIDE TOUR, WITH A STOP IN BOSTON, TRYING TO GET THE WIKILEAKS FOUNDER OUT OF A U.K. PRISON.

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND STAY SAFE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org