Talking with Bernadette Peters :: Back with the Boston Pops

One of little-known facts about Broadway superstar Bernadette Peters is that she is one of the few performers who can claim having played both the daughter and mother in the iconic musical "Gypsy." Early in her long career, she played Dainty June in the musical's second national tour; then, in 2004, played Rose in Sam Mendes' splendid revival of the show, for which she received her seventh Tony nomination. (She's won two.)

But such facts are not unusual for a performer with such a long and celebrated career as Peters, who, with her voluptuous figure, shock of red hair and sultry contralto appears not to age. She is easily at home in musicals, such as her recent gig replacing Bette Midler in "Hello, Dolly!" on Broadway, and the concert stage, where she's become perhaps the leading interpreter of the songs of Stephen Sondheim. She premiered two Sondheim musicals – "Sunday in the Park with George" and "Into the Woods," as well as playing in revivals of the aforementioned "Gypsy," "Follies," "Anyone Can Whistle" and "A Little Night Music."

In 2003, Playbill.com writer Andrew Gans wondered, "What is it about her voice that is so moving? Part womanly and part girlish, it is a powerful instrument, not only in volume (though that is impressive) but in the wealth of emotion it is able to convey... her voice – that mix of husky, sweet, rounded, vibrato-filled tones – induces a response that spans the emotional scale."

Boston audiences have the chance to experience Peters' magical stage presence when she joins Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops for the orchestra's first two concerts of its 2019 Spring season on Wednesday, May 8 and Thursday, May 9 at Symphony Hall. (For more information about these concerts, visit the Boston Pops' website.)

EDGE spoke to Peters about performing with the Pops, Sondheim and being a gay icon.

Breathing as one

EDGE: You have sung with the Boston Pops a few times, what continues to draw you to perform with the orchestra?

Bernadette Peters: The draw is the musicianship of the Pops. It is amazing! The way that Keith gets all those musicians to breathe as one. I am in awe of him. Plus, I don't do things the same way all the time, so he has to really listen to me, all the while the orchestra listens to him. We are all breathing together which makes us all one in the moment.

EDGE: What is it like working with Keith Lockhart?

Bernadette Peters: It's great! He is a wonderful conductor and he gives it his all. He takes rehearsals very seriously as if he was perfect forming at curtain time. He is professional, and he is dedicated to his job. He is a great motivator. I love how he can bring all the instruments together to make beautiful music and he does it with such ease.

Her Sondheim connection

EDGE: How do you choose which songs to perform?

Bernadette Peters: I try to do songs that I have not performed before with the Pops. I perform for 40-minutes, so I try to give the audience a satisfying arch, but I also want to give them songs they want to hear.

EDGE: As the foremost interpreter of Stephen Sondheim's music, what is the connection for you?

Bernadette Peters: He is just so good. He really says what he wants to say. I think because he writes both the music and the lyrics, that really gives you an intimate view of him and what he is thinking. He chooses subjects that are really interesting and heartfelt. I think if he were an actor, he would be one of the greatest. His songs that I choose to sing, are about sentiments that I like to be reminded of.

Being sexy and ageless

EDGE: For many gay men, you are an icon. What do you think it is about you that draws us to you so?

Bernadette Peters: Gay men allow their emotions to be seen and allow themselves to feel. I sing about emotions and I sing songs that deal with emotions that we don't usually let people see. Like myself, I don't hide my emotions and when you have nothing to hide you can find that connection with others.

EDGE: How do you stay sexy and ageless?

Bernadette Peters: Thanks! Best questions ever! Honestly, I am very lucky to have great genes. I come from a Sicilian background and I don't celebrate the age of the birthday, that way I am not locked into that age. I can be whatever age I want. I keep active which is key to any age.

Being called a 'icon'

EDGE: While researching you, such terms as "Broadway Goddess," "Legendary Icon" and "Diva", are a few words that are associated with your name. When you hear those, what do you think?

Bernadette Peters: They are just words. It a lovely thing if I really want to think about it. You can't take those things in and hold on to them. I do this job because I love to entertain and make people happy. I am always thinking about what is the next most interesting project that I want to get myself emotionally involved in. You can't walk around thinking you're Norma Desmond from "Sunset Boulevard," because that's how you get nowhere fast.

EDGE: A great Broadway song can create magic. What does a song need to have to create that magic for you?

Bernadette Peters: It must tell an interesting story. It has to be a real story with thought-provoking words. Before I was singing Sondheim, I was singing a lot of Irving Berlin because he could tell a wonderful story through song. The song has to involve me emotionally and as long as I can connect to it and that is where the magic for me comes from.

EDGE: What can you tell us about your charity "Broadway Barks?"

Bernadette Peters: I started it 20 years ago with my dear friend Mary Tyler Moore. The shelters in New York really needed help and we really needed to get the word out there that the dogs in there needed to get adopted. New York is doing a really good job now with animal care shelters. The ones who dedicate their lives to the needs of animals are my heroes and I wanted to help even in the smallest way possible. Once a year, usually in July, we host an adoption event. All the celebrities from the Broadway shows come out on stage accompanied by a shelter dog. They present and talk about them in hopes they will be adopted. It's a lot of fun for the entire family and most importantly it spreads awareness about the adorable dogs. In the Boston Pops bookstore, I will be selling items (i.e. books, bracelets, and CD's) to help raise money for "Broadway Barks," so I would appreciate any help. 100% of the purchases go directly to the charity.

EDGE: Are you working on any new music or projects?

Bernadette Peters: Nothing really to announce yet. There are always things floating around that I am considering but nothing definite.

Bernadette Peters appears with the Boston Pops on Wednesday, June 7 and Thursday, June 8 at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA. For more information about these concerts, visit the Boston Pops' website.

For more information on Bernadette visit, www.bernadettepeters.com and to purchase tickets to see her perform with the Boston Pops on May 8th and 9th visit, www.bso.org