>>> EVERY YEAR, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS COLLECTS $7 BILLION IN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ITS 17
MILLION MEMBERS. THE CHURCH HAS ITS OWN INVESTMENT FIRM, BUT THERE ARE QUESTIONS NOW ABOUT HOW MILLIONS
OF THOSE DOLLARS HAVE BEEN USED BY THE FAMOUSLY PRIVATE CHURCH. WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA THAT SECRECY BUILDS MISTRUST?
>> MM-HMM. WELL, WE DON'T FEEL IT'S BEING SECRET. WE FEEL IT'S BEING CONFIDENTIAL.
>> WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? >> UM -- >>> WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE IN THE WATER WITH THEM?
>> MAGICAL. >> TONIGHT, "60 MINUTES" IS EYE TO EYE WITH THE WHALE OF MOBY DICK LEGEND.
BUT SPERM WHALES ARE MATERNAL. GENERATIONS LIVE TOGETHER WHILE TAKING CARE OF THEIR CALFS AND THEY HAVE THE BIGGEST BRAIN IN
THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. AND THEY SLEEP LIKE THIS. >>> YOU WOULD BE FORGIVEN FOR DOUBLE CHECKING YOUR TICKET TO
MAKE SURE YOU WEREN'T AT MADISON QUARE GARDEN. THIS IS NEW YORK'S METROPOLITAN OPERA.
AND IN THIS CORNER, THE MAESTRO ONLY A THIRD MUSIC DIRECTOR IN THE MET'S 130-YEAR HISTORY. HIS EYES REACH MUSICIANS IN THE
PIT AND VOCALISTS ON STAGE, SEEMINGLY ALL AT ONCE. THE BOUNCE IN HIS BATON CONSECRATES EVERY NOTE.
>>> I'M LESLEY STAHL. >> I'M BILL WHITAKER. >> I'M ANDERSON COOPER. >> I'M SHARYN ALFONSI.
>> I'M JON WERTHEIM. >> I'M CECELIA VEGA. >> I'M SCOTT PELLEY. THOSE STORIES AND MORE TONIGHT
ON "60 MINUTES." >>> EVERY RELIGION HAS ITS MYSTERIES. ONE OF THE CLOSEST GUARDED
SECRETS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS HAS BEEN ITS WEALTH. TONIGHT, YOU WILL HEAR FOR THE
FIRST TIME ABOUT ITS REMARKABLE SIZE FROM A FORMER MANAGER AT THE CHURCH'S INVESTMENT FIRM. DAVID NIELSEN SAYS THAT DURING
HIS NINE YEARS MANAGING MONEY AT THE CHURCH FIRM, THE VALUE OF ITS INVESTMENTS BALLOONED PAST $100 BILLION.
THAT WOULD MAKE IT THE LARGEST TREASURE HELD BY ANY RELIGIOUS FUND IN AMERICA. BUT INSTEAD OF SPENDING THAT
MONEY TO DO GOOD, DAVID NIELSEN ALLEGES IT WAS USED IN WAYS THAT BENT THE LAW AND BROKE HIS FAITH.
>> I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO WORK FOR A CHARITY. I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT MY SKILLS WERE GOING TO DO.
WAS HELP BUILD THE CHARITY AND DO GOOD WITH THINGS. AND THE FUNDS WERE NEVER USED FOR THAT.
IT WAS REALLY A CLANDESTINE HEDGE FUND. >> A CLANDESTINE HEDGE FUND. >> HOW SO?
>> THOSE FUNDS WEREN'T USED THE WAY THEY WERE APPROPRIATED TO BE USED. >> SO HOW WERE THEY BEING USED?
>> ONCE THE MONEY WENT IN, IT DIDN'T GO OUT. >> DAVID NIELSEN WAS A SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER FOR THE
INVESTMENT ARM OF THE CHURCH CALLED ENSIGN PEAK ADVISERS. IN 2009, NIELSEN, WHO SAYS HE WAS A DEVOUT MORMON, WAS
RECRUITED AWAY FROM A LUCRATIVE JOB ON WALL STREET TO WORK FOR THE FIRM, A BLOCK FROM CHURCH HEADQUARTERS IN SALT LAKE CITY.
>> YOU KNOW THIS, WALL STREET, YOU SPEND YOUR SKILLS WORKING TO MAKE REALLY RICH PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT MORE RICH.
BUT THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF PUTTING YOUR SKILLS TO WORK FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK IS
REALLY GOING TO BUILD THE KINGDOM, THAT'S REALLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. >> BUT NIELSEN SAYS THAT HE GREW
TROUBLED BY WHAT HE SAW AT ENSIGN PEAK. HE SAYS THE FIRM USED FALSE RECORDS AND STATEMENTS TO MASK
AS A CHARITY, STOCKPILING MONEY, AND MISLEADING CHURCH MEMBERS. EVERY YEAR, THE CHURCH COLLECTS AN ESTIMATED $7 BILLION IN
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ITS 17 MILLION PEOPLE. THE CHURCH EXPECTS MEMBERS TO CONTRIBUTE ABOUT 10% OF THEIR
INCOME, A PRACTICE KNOWN AS TITHING. EXPLAIN HOW THE TITHE IS SUPPOSED TO BE USED?
>> TITHING IS WHAT'S USED TO BUILD BUILDINGS, IT'S WHAT USED TO PAY THE LIGHT BILLS. TITHING IS WHAT'S USED TO
OPERATE SOME OF THE CHURCH'S PROGRAMS. >> WHATEVER'S LEFT OVER, ABOUT $1 BILLION A YEAR, IS PUT INTO A
RESERVE FUND AT ENSIGN PEAK AND INVESTED. BECAUSE ENSIGN PEAK IS REGISTERED AS A NONPROFIT, IT
ALL GROWS TAX FREE. DAVID NIELSEN SAYS THAT SINCE IT WAS CREATED IN 1997, THE RESERVE FUND HAS SWELLED BEYOND $100
BILLION, TWICE THE SIZE OF HARVARD'S ENDOWMENT OR THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION. >> YOU COULD SOLVE BIG PROBLEMS
WITH $100 BILLION. >> IS THAT THE THING THAT BOTHERS YOU ABOUT ALL OF THIS? >> I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO
CHANGE THE WORLD, AND WE JUST GREW THE BANK ACCOUNT. >> DID ANY OF YOUR FORMER BOSSES EXPLAIN HOW THE MONEY WAS GOING
TO BE USED ONE DAY? >> THE ANSWER WAS ALWAYS, THE SECOND COMING. AND IT'S A BIT TONGUE IN CHEEK,
BUT DEEP DOWN, I THINK A LOT OF THE EMPLOYEES REALLY DID BELIEVE THAT. >> PUBLICLY, CHURCH LEADERS
CALLED IT A RAINY DAY FUND. BUT IN 2013, NIELSEN SAYS ONE OF HIS BOSSES SHARED THIS DOCUMENT AT A MEETING THAT SHOWED $1.4
BILLION FROM THE FUND WENT TO A MALL BEING BUILT ON LAND OWNED BY THE CHURCH. AND $600 MILLION WAS USED TO
PROP UP A FOR-PROFIT CHURCH-OWNED INSURANCE COMPANY CALLED BENEFICIAL LIFE. >> I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON
CHARITIES, BUT I'VE BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS CAN'T BAIL OUT FOR-PROFIT
BUSINESSES AND MAINTAIN THEIR CHARITABLE STATUS. >> AND SO WHEN THEY GAVE THIS MONEY TO BAIL OUT A FOR-PROFIT
VENTURE, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? >> WHAT ARE WE DOING? LIKE, HOW IS THIS OKAY? >> DAVID NIELSEN SAYS THAT HE
HIT HIS BREAKING POINT IN 2018 AFTER A WEBSITE CALLED MORMONLEAKS LINKED CHURCH MEMBERS TO COMPANIES THAT
EXISTED ONLY ON PAPER. THOSE SHELL COMPANIES HELD BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN STOCKS AND BONDS.
WHAT NOBODY KNEW OUTSIDE OF CHURCH LEADERSHIP WAS THOSE ASSETS WERE ACTUALLY CONTROLLED BY ENSIGN PEAK.
NIELSEN SAYS THE FIRM CALLED AN EMERGENCY MEETING. WHAT WAS THE EXPLANATION? >> THESE ENTITIES WORK TO HIDE
THE ASSETS FROM THE MEMBERS. THE CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER SAID THAT IF WE WERE TO CHANGE AND START REPORTING THESE
SECURITIES IN OUR OWN NAME, IT WOULD BRING UNDO ATTENTION TO THE FIRM. AND THAT THAT ATTENTION WOULD BE
POTENTIALLY DAMAGING. AND AFTER THE MEETING, I WENT AND CONFRONTED HIM. WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "POTENTIALLY
DAMAGING"? AND HE SAID, DAVE, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE OUR TAX EXEMPT STATUS. AND I KNEW IN THAT MOMENT I WAS
IN THE WRONG PLACE. >> HE RESIGNED IN 2019 AND FILED A 74-PAGE WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT WITH THE INTERNAL
REVENUE SERVICE, ALLEGING THAT ENSIGN PEAK VIOLATED ITS TAX-EXEMPT STATUS BY MOVING MONEY TO FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES.
>> IT'S NOT JUST INCORRECT, IT'S FLAT-OUT WRONG. >> CHRISTOPHER WADDELL SAYS THAT NIELSEN DIDN'T HAVE A FULL
PICTURE OF ENSIGN PEAK. WADDELL IS ONE OF THREE BISHOPS THAT OVERSEES CHURCH FINANCES. >> AS A CHRISTIAN CHURCH, WE
BELIEVE THAT SOME DAY THAT JESUS CHRIST WILL RETURN, BUT THAT'S NOT WHY WE HAVE THOSE RESOURCES. IT'S FOR THE CONTINUING
OPERATION AND FOR THE FUTURE. >> DAVID NIELSEN ALLEGED THAT ENSIGN PEAK VIOLATED ITS TAX-EXEMPT STATUS BY DIRECTING
MONEY TO CHURCH BUSINESSES. HOW DO YOU CHARACTERIZE HOW THAT MONEY WAS USED? >> THE CHURCH ACTUALLY OWNED
BENEFICIAL LIFE. AND FORTUNATELY, THE CHURCH HAD THE RESOURCES TO BAIL OUT BENEFICIAL LIFE DURING THE
FINANCIAL CRISIS, 2008-2009. >> AND THE MALL? >> THE MALL WAS NOT A BAILOUT, THE MALL WAS AN INVESTMENT.
>> AND YOU ARE RECEIVING RETURNS ON THAT INVESTMENT? >> ABSOLUTELY. IT WAS AN INVESTMENT.
>> WADDELL SAYS THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS PAID BACK MOST OF THE BAILOUT MONEY, BUT THE CHURCH WOULD NOT DISCLOSE THE
DETAILS OF THAT DEAL OR THE MALL INVESTMENT. UNLIKE OTHER NONPROFITS, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS DON'T
HAVE TO FULLY DISCLOSE ALL FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO THE IRS. WHAT IS THE VALUE RIGHT NOW OF
ENSIGN PEAK'S ASSETS? >> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN'T SHARE WITH YOU RIGHT NOW. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS
ON APPROXIMATES AND THAT KIND OF THING, AND THAT'S AS FAR AS WE CAN GO RIGHT NOW. >> IT'S BEEN ESTIMATED AT 150
BILLION. DOES THAT SOUND CORRECT? >> THAT'S AN ESTIMATE SOME HAVE MADE.
>> ARE WE IN THE BALLPARK OR NO? >> WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES. >> GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT
PERCENTAGE IS GOING OUT THE DOOR OF THE MONEY UNDER MANAGEMENT? >> TO BE HONEST, WE'VE NEVER LOOKED AT IT AS A PERCENTAGE.
WE'VE LOOKED AT IT BASED ON NEEDS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH HOW MANY YEARS' WORTH WE HAVE IN CASE OF
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, IN CASE OF A FINANCIAL CRISIS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE CHURCH OPERATIONS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS SUFFICIENT. >> DAVID NIELSEN SAYS THAT HE DID NOT INTEND FOR HIS COMPLAINT
TO THE IRS TO BECOME PUBLIC, BUT IN 2019, HIS BROTHER SHARED IT WITH "THE WASHINGTON POST." NIELSEN, WHO IN HIS FREE TIME
RACES MOTORCYCLES, SAYS HE WAS SHUNNED BY SOME OF HIS FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IN SALT LAKE CITY. IT WASN'T UNTIL 2021, TWO YEARS
LATER, THAT DAVID NIELSEN HEARD FROM INVESTIGATORS. NOT FROM THE IRS, BUT THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION, WHICH LAUNCHED ITS OWN PROBE INTO ENSIGN PEAK AFTER THAT WEBSITE STORY LINKED THE CHURCH TO SHELL COMPANIES.
WHAT INFORMATION DID YOU GIVE TO THE S.E.C.? >> EVERYTHING. I HELPED THEM SEE THE BIG
PICTURE. >> TO PROTECT MARKET FAIRNESS AND TRANSPARENCY, ANY FIRM WITH MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN
SECURITIES MUST FILE ACCURATE REPORTS ON ITS HOLDINGS WITH THE S.E.C. BUT IN FEBRUARY, THE S.E.C.
ANNOUNCED THE CHURCH OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS AND ENSIGN PEAK FAILED TO DO THAT. S.E.C. INVESTIGATORS FOUND THE
CHURCH WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS TO HIDE $32 BILLION IN SECURITIES OVER NEARLY 20 YEARS. IT CREATED 13 SHELL COMPANIES
THAT WERE ASSIGNED A LOCAL PHONE NUMBER THAT WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO VOICEMAIL, IN CASE REGULATORS CHECKED IN.
>> HERE THEY HAD THESE BACK OFFICE ACCOUNTANTS, WHO HAD NEVER BOUGHT A BOND OR SOLD A STOCK A DAY IN THEIR LIFE,
SIGNING SIGNATORY PAGES FOR A PORTFOLIO THAT DIDN'T EXIST. >> THE S.E.C. FINED THE CHURCH AND ENSIGN PEAK A TOTAL OF $5
MILLION. BISHOP CHRISTOPHER WADDELL TOLD US IT WAS THE CHURCH'S LAWYERS WHO ADVISED THEM TO CREATE THE
SHELL COMPANIES. WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA THAT SECRECY BUILDS MISTRUST? >> MM-HMM.
WELL, WE DON'T FEEL IT'S BEING SECRET. WE FEEL IT'S BEING CONFIDENTIAL. >> WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
>> THE DIFFERENCE IS, UM -- I GUESS IT'S A POINT OF VIEW. CONFIDENTIAL, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE FOCUS ON WHAT OUR
PURPOSE IS AND WHAT THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS RATHER THAN THE CHURCH HAS "X" AMOUNT OF MONEY. >> BUT DON'T YOU AGREE THIS
WOULD BE A NON-ISSUE IF THERE WAS MORE TRANSPARENCY? >> NO. BECAUSE THEN EVERYONE WOULD BE
TELLING US WHAT THEY WANTED US TO DO WITH THE MONEY. >> LAST YEAR, THE CHURCH SAYS THAT IT SPENT OVER $1 BILLION ON
HUMANITARIAN AID, INCLUDING FOOD PRODUCTION. >> IN ANY GIVEN MONTH, YOU MAY HAVE AN AVERAGE OF NINE
TRANSFERS GOING FROM ENSIGN PEAK BACK TO THE CHURCH, TO FUND OUTREACH OPERATIONS. ALL HUMANITARIAN WORK, EDUCATION
WORK, ALL THE WORK OF THE CHURCH, THEY FUND. >> MONEY IS GOING IN AND OUT OF THE CASH ACCOUNTS ALL THE TIME.
BUT ENSIGN PEAK'S FUNDS WERE NEVER USED FOR ANY CHARITABLE PURPOSE. IT'S TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE WHOLE
TIME I WAS THERE, SO THERE'S A BIT OF A DISTINCTION HERE THAT'S IMPORTANT. >> EXPLAIN THAT TO ME.
>> IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT AND MAYBE YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNT. THEY'RE USED FOR DIFFERENT
PURPOSES AND YOU DON'T GET TO PRETEND THAT ONE IS AFFECTING THE OTHER. >> THE FUNDAMENTAL CLAIM TO ME
IS THAT ENSIGN PEAK BRINGS MONEY IN, AND IT'S THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA. IT NEVER COMES OUT.
>> PHIL HACKNEY WORKED IN THE OFFICE OF CHIEF COUNSEL OF THE IRS AND TEACHES TAX LAW. HE CONCEDES IT'S COMPLEX AND THE
CASE FALLS INTO A GRAY AREA. THE CHURCH WOULD SAY, WE GIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OUT EVERY YEAR IN HUMANITARIAN WORK.
HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH BY THE STANDARDS OF THE IRS? >> WE KNOW WITHIN PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, IT'S 5% OF ASSETS.
THERE'S NO CLARITY WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC CHARITIES, AND CERTAINLY NOT WITH CHURCHES. BUT, I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE
SOMETHING LIKE 2, 3% OF ASSETS BEING SPENT OUT TO JUSTIFY THAT STATUS. >> BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW IF
THEY'RE SPENDING 2 OR 3% OF ASSETS, IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ASSETS ARE? >> WE HAVE TO RELY ON THEM
BEHAVING WELL. >> THEY SAID THAT THEY BAILED OUT THIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THAT'S THE WORDS THEY USED.
IS THAT A PROBLEM? >> IT IS A PROBLEM, IN MY OPINION, IF THEY HAVE MOVED MONEY FROM THE NON-PROFIT TO A
FOR-PROFIT. >> SO HOW LIKELY DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE THAT THE IRS SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS?
>> SLIM. THE POLITICAL RISK IS SO GREAT THAT IT COMES WITH REAL DANGER. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A REAL
RISK TO THE RULE OF LAW IF THE IRS DOESN'T COME IN AND ENFORCE THOSE RULES. >> DAVID NIELSEN SAYS THAT
HONESTY IS A TENET OF THE FAITH. HE WANTS ENSIGN PEAK ADVISERS TO PAY THE TAXES HE SAYS IT OWES ON THE $100 BILLION FORTUNE BUILT
FROM TITHING. IF THE IRS DECIDES NIELSEN IS RIGHT, HE COULD BE REWARDED WITH UP TO 30% OF WHAT'S COLLECTED.
THE IRS DOES NOT COMMENT ON WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINTS. WHY ARE YOU SPEAKING NOW? >> IT'S TIME, SHARYN.
WE GAVE THE IRS AND THE S.E.C. ALL THE PROFESSIONAL COURTESY. THIS IS JUST TOO IMPORTANT TO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
>> IT'S POSSIBLE THAT YOU WERE DEAD WRONG? >> NO. I KNOW WHAT I SAW.
I KNOW WHAT I KNOW. >>> IN DECEMBER, NEARLY EVERY MEMBER COUNTRY OF THE UNITED NATIONS PLEDGED TO PROTECT AT
LEAST 30% OF THE WORLD'S LAND AND SEA BY 2030 TO REVERSE THE DAMAGE DONE BY HUMANS AND PROTECT VULNERABLE SPECIES.
ONE OF THE ANIMALS AT RISK IS ALSO ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE OCEAN AND AMONG THE LEAST UNDERSTOOD.
SPERM WHALES ARE NOT THE PREDATORS OF MOBY DICK LEGEND. THEY HAVE BRAINS SIX TIMES LARGER THAN OURS AND SPEND MOST
OF THEIR LIVES IN THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE THEIR SIZE WITHOUT COMPARING
THEM TO A SCHOOL BUS. LAST MONTH, WE TRAVELLED WITH "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC" EXPLORER ENRIC SALA TO THE CARIBBEAN
ISLAND OF DOMINICA, WHERE HE'S PROPOSING PROTECTION FOR THE HUNDREDS OF SPERM WHALES LIVING THERE.
BUT FIRST, WE HAD TO FIND THEM. >> YOU GUYS READY? GO! GO!
GO, GUYS, GO! >> LOOK IN THE WATER. COMING STRAIGHT TO YOU.
>> MOST OF ENRIC SALA'S DIVES DON'T START LIKE A FIRE DRILL, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS SPENT THOUSANDS OF HOURS UNDERWATER AS
AN EXPLORER. >> LOOK DOWN. AT THE BACK OF YOU! LOOK!
THIS WAY! >> WE CAME FACE-TO-FACE WITH A POD OF WHALES, BUT THESE ARE NOT THE WHALES WE CAME ALL THIS WAY
TO SEE. THESE ARE PYGMY KILLER WHALES, KNOWN TO THREATEN SPERM WHALES. AND BECAUSE THEY ARE HERE, THE
SPERM WHALES ARE NOT. THESE KILLER WHALES CAN GROW UP TO 8 1/2 FEET IN SIZE. SALA TOLD US SEEING THEM UP
CLOSE ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS. YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET INTO THE WATER WITH THEM? THEY ARE THAT ELUSIVE?
>> NEVER SEE THEM. >> WHY IS THAT? >> THEY ARE VERY SMART. THEY HUNT LIKE WOLVES.
THEY'RE AFTER PREY. >> WE WERE OFF THE COAST OF DOMINICA. AN ISLAND IN THE CARIBBEAN.
THOSE RAIN-FOREST COVERED VOLCANIC PEAKS DROP THOUSANDS OF FEET DOWN TO THE SEA FLOOR BELOW, WHICH IS WHY HUNDREDS OF
SPERM WHALES LIVE IN THESE WATERS. THEY ARE ONE OF THE DEEPEST DIVING MAMMALS ON THE PLANET.
THEY ARE MOSTLY FEMALES HERE, FAMILIES MADE UP OF GRANDMOTHERS, MOTHERS, AND DAUGHTERS WHO STAY TOGETHER FOR
LIFE, NURSING AND RAISING THEIR YOUNG. WHEN ENRIC SALA WAS HERE IN DECEMBER, HIS "NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC" TEAM FILMED THIS. IT IS A POD OF SLEEPING FEMALE SPERM WHALES, VERTICAL GIANTS UP TO 40 FEET LONG, SUSPENDED NEAR
THE SURFACE. THEIR NAP LASTS ONLY ABOUT 15 MINUTES UNTIL THE WHALES ARE READY TO DIVE AGAIN IN WHAT CAN
BE AN HOUR-LONG JOURNEY FOR SQUID THOUSANDS OF FEET DOWN. EVEN TO RESEARCHERS, WHY THEY SLEEP LIKE THIS IS ONE OF THE
GREAT MYSTERIES. WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE IN THE WATER WITH THEM? >> MAGICAL.
WE HAVE IN OUR MINDS THE LEGEND OF MOBY DICK, THESE NASTY, AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS. BUT YOU JUMP IN THE WATER, AND
THEY ARE SO DOCILE AND GENTLE. THEY HAVE NEVER ATTACKED HUMANS. AND THEY ARE SO CURIOUS, ESPECIALLY THE BABIES.
SO IT'S ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS THAT ONE CAN HAVE. >> YOUR OFFICIAL TITLE IS
EXPLORER IN RESIDENCE. >> IT'S AN OXYMORON. EXPLORERS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SITTING IN ONE PLACE.
>> THAT'S TRUE. WHAT'S THAT MEAN TO BE AN EXPLORER IN 2023? >> VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT AN
EXPLORER OF THE 19th CENTURY WAS. I CAN DEDICATE MY LIFE AND WORK WITH AN AMAZING TEAM OF
SCIENTISTS, POLICY EXPERTS, FILMMAKERS, STORYTELLERS TO WORK WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, GOVERNMENT, AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE TO ASSESS THE HEALTH OF OCEAN PLACES AND HELP TO PROTECT THEM. >> HE GREW UP NORTH OF
BARCELONA, SPAIN, NEAR THE COAST. HIS FIRST DIVE WAS IN A MARINE RESERVE.
>> IT DROVE EVERYTHING THAT I HAD DONE AFTERWARDS. IF WE GIVE THE OCEAN SPACE, IT CAN HEAL ITSELF.
>> SALA MOVED TO CALIFORNIA WHERE HE WAS A PROFESSOR OF MARINE ECOLOGY FOR SEVEN YEARS AT THE SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF
OCEANOGRAPHY. YOU HAVE HAD A LONG CAREER IN ACADEMIA AT A TOP UNIVERSITY AND YOU TRIED THAT AND DECIDED, NOT
FOR ME. YOU WALKED AWAY. >> I WALKED AWAY, BECAUSE MY JOB WAS TO STUDY THE IMPACTS OF
HUMAN IN THE OCEAN, THE IMPACTS OF FISHING AND GLOBAL WARMING. AND ONE DAY I REALIZED, ALL I WAS DOING WAS WRITING THE
OBITUARY OF THE OCEAN. >> WRITING THE OBITUARY OF THE OCEAN? >> YEAH, I FELT LIKE THE DOCTOR
WHO WAS TELLING YOU HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DIE WITH EXCRUCIATING DETAIL, BUT NOT OFFERING A CURE. >> HAVE YOU FOUND THAT CURE?
>> THERE IS ONE SOLUTION. THAT IS PROVEN. IT'S A SUCCESS STORY EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHICH IS MARINE
RESERVES OR MARINE-PROTECTED AREAS. AREAS WHERE DAMAGING ACTIVITIES ARE BANNED AND MARINE LIFE CAN
COME BACK. >> HE FOUNDED THE PRISTINE SEAS PROJECT IN 2008. IT COMBINES SEA EXPLORATION,
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND PUBLIC POLICY AND HAS WORKED WITH 17 COUNTRIES TO TURN THESE LARGE SWATHS OF THE OCEAN INTO
MARINE-PROTECTED AREAS. IN DOMINICA, SCIENTISTS ESTIMATE THE SPERM WHALE POPULATION DECLINES BY 3% EACH YEAR.
SALA SAYS A PRESERVE WOULD PROTECT THEM FROM THEIR GREATEST THREAT -- NOT THOSE PYGMY KILLER WHALES WE SAW OR WHALING, WHICH
HAS BEEN BANNED FOR DECADES, BUT PLASTIC TRASH, OCEAN NOISE POLLUTION, AND SHIP STRIKES. IF THEY CONTINUE WITH THE STATUS
QUO HERE, WHAT HAPPENS? >> IF NOTHING IS DONE, THE POPULATION WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE DECLINING.
SO REDUCING THOSE THREATS, HOPEFULLY, WILL ALLOW THE SPERM WHALE POPULATION TO REBOUND. AND THE MORE WHALES THERE ARE,
THE MORE BENEFITS DOMINICA AND THE LOCAL BENEFITS WILL OBTAIN. >> HURRICANE MARIA DEVASTATED THOSE COMMUNITIES IN 2017.
TODAY, THE ISLAND IS CONTINUING TO REBUILD AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. FRANCINE BARON HEADS THE AGENCY
IN CHARGE OF THAT EFFORT. WHAT WAS IT ABOUT HURRICANE MARIA THAT MADE THE LEADERS OF THIS COUNTRY SAY, WE HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING? WE REALLY HAVE TO ACT? >> WE SUFFERED THE EQUIVALENT OF 226% LOSS OF GDP.
SO WE COULD SEE THE TREND. AND WE REALIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO BECOME MUCH MORE RESILIENT. >> WHEN ENRIC SALA CAME TO YOU
WITH THIS IDEA OF CREATING THIS SANCTUARY FOR THESE WHALES, WHAT WAS HIS PITCH TO YOU? >> WE SEE WHALE WATCHING AS AN
IMPORTANT PART OF OUR TOURISM PRODUCT, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED. AND THE IDEA OF CREATING GREATER
PROTECTION FOR THE WHALES IS SOMETHING THAT DOMINICA IS VERY OPEN TO AND WE WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THE SUGGESTION THAT ENRIC
MADE TO CREATE A RECOGNIZED SANCTUARY FOR THE WHALES. >> ENRIC SALA COMPARES IT TO A MODEL THAT WORKS IN RWANDA,
WHERE PROTECTING MOUNTAIN GORILLAS HELPED BRING TOURISM DOLLARS TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. YOU GOING TO FIND US SOME
WHALES? >> SURE. >> ALL RIGHT. CAPTAIN CURT BENOIT WAS BORN AND
RAISED AND HAS BEEN IN THE WHALE AND TOURISM BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES AGO. WE SET OUT ON HIS 38-FOOT "LADY
ROSE" FROM A SMALL FISHING VILLAGE ON THE WEST COAST. OUR GOVERNMENT PERMIT TO SWIM WITH THE WHALES WAS GOOD FOR SIX
DAYS. CAPTAIN BENOIT USES A HOMEMADE DEVICE THAT PICKS UP THE DISTINCT CLICKING OF SPERM
WHALES AS FAR AS 11 MILES AWAY. >> WE'VE GOT WHALES IN THE SOUTH. >> EVERY THREE MILES, WE CHECK
TO SEE IF WE WERE GETTING CLOSER. >> COME TO PAPA. THAT IS HER.
>> TELL ME ABOUT THIS REALLY HIGH TECH DEVICE YOU'VE GOT HERE. >> YOU HAVE ON THE WATER A
MICROPHONE WHICH PICKS UP SOUND FROM 360. SO WHAT I DID, I TOOK A SALAD BOWL WITH NEOPRENE, SO AS IT
GOES OUT, IT BRINGS YOU STRAIGHT TO WHEREVER YOU HEAR THE SOUND. >> THIS IS A SALAD BOWL FROM YOUR HOUSE?
>> YES. >> WHAT DO THE WHALES SOUND LIKE? >> IT'S LIKE A HORSE IS
GALLOPING ON A HOT SURFACE. IF YOU HEAR SEVERAL OF THEM, THAT MEANS THERE'S A LOT OF WHALES THERE.
LET'S KEEP IT GOING. I'M GOING TO FIND THESE GUYS. >> ALL RIGHT! >> ON A SECOND DAY, A
WATERSPOUT. SEE IT? RIGHT THERE. YOU CAN SEE ITS TOP.
LOOK AT THEM. >> GO! >> SWIMMERS IN THE WATER. >> MALES HERE LIVE WITH THEIR
FAMILIES UNTIL THEIR TEEN YEARS. THEN THEY ROAM MOSTLY ALONE, SWIMMING THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY.
CARIBBEAN MALE SPERM WHALES HAVE BEEN FOUND AS FAR AWAY AS NORWAY, RETURNING HERE ONLY TO MATE.
OUR CAMERAMAN GOT LUCKY ENOUGH OR UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THE WHALE POOP ON HIM. >> THE WHALES GO DOWN, HUNT
SQUID, COME BACK TO THE SURFACE, THEY BREATHE, THEY REST, AND THEY POOP. AND THAT POOP IS FULL OF NEWT
NUTRIENTS THAT FERTILIZES THE SHALLOW WATERS. >> SO A GOOD THING, I GUESS. >> IT'S A GOOD THING.
COME ON, PEOPLE, WE'RE LOOKING FOR SPOUTS. >> BUT OUR LUCK DIDN'T LAST. WE SPENT THE NEXT DAY SEARCHING
FOR SPERM WHALES AND THE NEXT -- NOTHING AT ALL? >> NOTHING AT ALL. >> AND THE NEXT.
NOT A SINGLE CLICK. >> YOU GUYS, IT'S PRETTY QUIET. >> AND THEN, IN THE LAST HOUR OF THE LAST DAY OF OUR TRIP --
>> WE HAVE LOTS OF ANIMALS IN THE AREA, GUYS. THEY'RE COMING BACK. BUT I'M GETTING SOME 360.
SO THAT MEANS THE WHALES, WE ARE ABOVE THEM. WE ARE RIGHT THERE. >> GO!
GO! GO! IT'S COMING TO YOU. IT'S COMING TO YOU!
>> WE JUMPED IN THE WATER AND A YOUNG FEMALE SWAM RIGHT TO US. SHE CAME WITHIN FEET. AT FIRST, HER SIZE WAS
TERRIFYING. SHE MADE A SOUND LIKE A CREAKING DOOR HINGE. IT'S ONE OF THE WAYS WHALES
COMMUNICATE AND SOCIALIZE. WITH EYES ON THE SIDE OF HER HEAD, SHE STARED RIGHT AT US. SHE HAD SQUID IN HER MOUTH,
LEFTOVER FROM LUNCH THOUSANDS OF FEET BELOW. SHE STAYED AND ROLLED AROUND AND HER JAW WAS WIDE OPEN.
SHE WAS USING ECHOLOCATION, BOUNCING THOSE CLICKS OFF OF US, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WERE.
YOU COULD HEAR THE CLICKING. YOU COULD HEAR HER -- ONCE YOU WERE REALLY CLOSE TO HER, YOU COULD HEAR THAT.
VERY LOUDLY. >> I COULD FEEL IT IN MY BONES. >> YOU GRABBED MY HAND. YOU COULD TELL I WAS NERVOUS.
>> I WAS EXCITED TOO. >> YOU WERE? >> THEY ARE HUGE. YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THEM.
>> YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THEM. THERE IS A SENSE OF AWE THAT COMES WITH BEING IN THERE. SHE WAS LOOKING RIGHT AT US.
AND SHE LEFT US A SOUVENIR. >> A PIECE OF SQUID. >> SPERM WHALES LIVE -- >> SHANE GERO IS ANOTHER
"NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC" EXPLORER. HE STARTED THE DOMINICA SPERM WHALE PROGRESS AND OVER THE PAST 35 YEARS, HE'S IDENTIFIED 35
FAMILIES. DID YOU RAISE THE WHALE WE SAW? >> THE ONE YOU SAW, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ALL THAT MUCH.
AND THOSE GROUPS IDENTIFY THEMSELVES BY MAKING SPECIFIC PATTERNS OF CLICKS CALLED CODAS. IT'S A PART OF WHO THEY ARE,
WHERE THEIR GRANDMOTHER GREW UP, AND SO IT REALLY TIES THE ANIMALS AND THE PLACE TOGETHER. >> WHAT DOES THE CODA OF THE EC2
SOUND LIKE? >> THEY MAKE THE 5R3 CODA. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS. FIVE SLOW CLICKS.
AND SHE CAME UP TO YOU AND MADE THIS 5R3 CODA, SAYING I AM FROM THE EC2 CLAN, ARE YOU? >> SHE WAS ROLLING AROUND AND
KEPT COMING BACK. BUT IS THAT ME ASSIGNING HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS TO A WHALE, OR IS SHE ACTUALLY A PLAYFUL
ANIMAL? >> THESE ARE THE ANIMALS THAT ARE HOLDING THE LARGEST BRAIN TO EVER EXIST, MAYBE IN THE
UNIVERSE AND THEY USE THAT FOR COMPLICATED THINKING AND BEHAVIOR. ABSOLUTELY, THIS WAS AN ANIMAL
THAT WAS PLAYFUL. AND THAT CURIOSITY OF THE ANIMAL ACTIVELY COMING TOWARDS YOU JUST SHOWS THAT THIS IS AN ANIMAL
THAT'S INVESTIGATING SOMETHING IN ITS WORLD. >> BACK ON THE DOCK -- >> THERE IS A TREASURE HERE.
>> ENRIC SALA SAID, IT'S THAT WORLD HE'S TRYING TO PROTECT. >> BEING IN THE WATER WITH SPERM WHALES IS A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE.
THERE'S SOMETHING SPIRITUAL THERE. IT'S MORE THAN SCIENCE AND DATA. A SENSE OF AWE AND WONDER THAT
IS UNAVOIDABLE WHEN YOU ARE IN THE WATER WITH THESE GENTLE GIANTS.
>>> TO HAVE SOMEONE TRUST YOU ENOUGH TO TELL YOU THEIR SECRETS, TO INVITE YOU INTO THEIR HOME IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
WILL EVER BE LOST ON ME. >> CECILIA VEGA ON BECOMING A
>>> YANNICK NEZET-SEGUIN IS A CONDUCTOR AT THREE OPERAS, THE MET IN NEW YORK WHICH PINNED ON HIM THE BOLD REVAMPING OF ITS
ARTISTIC MISSION. NOT THAT YOU'LL CATCH NEZET-SEGUIN SWEATING IT. AT 48, HE'S OBLITERATING THE
STEREOTYPE OF THE STRICT, UNAPPROACHABLE MAESTRO, HIS HAIR BLEACHED PLATINUM BLOND, AND A SMILE PLASTERED TO HIS FACE.
NOTED FOR HIS VIRTUOSITY, HE'S RE-IMAGINING THE MODERN ORCHESTRA AND ITS SOUNDTRACK IN THE MODERN CITY.
YOU'D BE FORGIVEN FOR DOUBLE CHECKING YOUR TICKET TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WEREN'T AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.
THIS IS NEW YORK'S METROPOLITAN OPERA. AND IN THIS CORNER, THE MAESTRO, YANNICK NEZET-SEGUIN, ONLY THE
THIRD MUSICAL DIRECTOR IN THE MET'S HISTORY. HE'S CONDUCTING A JAZZ-INFUSED OPERA ABOUT A REAL-LIFE BOXING
CHAMPION OF THE 1960s AND '70s. ALL OF THIS AS A RADICAL KEY CHANGE FROM THE STANDARD MET LINEUP OF PUCCINI AND WAGNER.
NEZET-SEGUIN'S EYES REACH EVERYONE ALL AT ONCE. THE BOUNCE IN HIS BATON CONSECRATES EVERY NOTE.
>> IT'S A CATHARTIC MOMENT WHERE, OH, MY GOD, THIS IS SO AMAZING. THIS IS SO IMPRESSIVE.
THIS IS SO INTENSE, THIS IS SO EMOTIONAL. AND THIS CATHARTIC EXPERIENCE, WE FEEL TRANSFORMED AS A
DIFFERENT PERSON BEFORE AND AFTER LISTENING TO THESE PIECES. >> THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING SACRED ABOUT YOUR MAKING MUSIC.
AM I OVERSTATING THAT? >> NO. NO, YOU'RE NOT. I TRY NEVER TO TAKE MYSELF TOO
SERIOUSLY, BUT MUSIC HAS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. >> A PIANIST BY TRAINING, NEZET-SEGUIN BRINGS HIS
SENSIBILITY TO BEAR UP AND DOWN THE EASTERN SEABOARD. IN PHILADELPHIA, HE IS THE CURRENT CUSTODIAN OF WHAT'S BEEN
A WORLD-RENOWNED ORCHESTRA FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY. WE VISITED IN FEBRUARY AS THE CITY CELEBRATED THE CONTRACT
EXTENSION THROUGH 2030 OF A MAESTRO KNOWN TO ALL BY HIS FIRST NAME. >> YANNICK!
>> THAT MORNING, YANNICK AND HIS MUSICIANS MADE THE PILGRIMAGE UP THE FAMED ROCKY STEPS, CLAD IN EAGLES GEAR.
HE SEES THE ORCHESTRA NOT UNLIKE A SPORTS TEAM AS AN INSTRUMENT OF COHESION IN THE COMMUNITY. >> HEY!
HI, EVERYONE! HI! >> IN THE AFTERNOON, NEZET-SEGUIN STOPPED BY THE
PHILLY'S HIGH SCHOOL TO GUEST CONDUCT THE STUDENTS. >> I THINK IF WE WERE TO AGREE TO BITE EVEN MORE ON EVERY NOTE,
LIKE -- ♪ >> THAT'S IT! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!
>> 450 MILES DUE NORTH BACK HOME IN MONTREAL, THEY SPEAK HIS LANGUAGE IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.
THE ORCHESTRE METROPOLITAIN, HE HAS LED THEM FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. THAT'S HIS HUSBAND ON VIOLA.
THE DEPTH OF HIS PRODUCTION PRODUCES HYPNOTIC SOUND. LISTEN TO THIS, A REHEARSAL OF SIBELIUS FIFTH SYMPHONY.
♪ >> FOR WEEKS, YANNICK LEADS PERFORMANCES IN ALL THREE CITIES.
JUST LAST SATURDAY, HE CONDUCTED A MATINEE IN NEW YORK AND THE EVENING PROGRAM IN PHILLY. THEN AGAIN, WHAT IS A CONDUCTOR
IF NOT SOMEONE ABLE TO SYNCHRONIZE. >> I CAN'T DENY THAT IT'S A VERY DEMANDING SCHEDULE AND EVEN THE
WORD SCHEDULE, SHOULD I EVER RETIRE, I WANT TO BAN THAT WORD FROM MY LIFE. >> DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CHILD
AMONG THE THREE ORCHESTRAS YOU CONDUCT? >> YOU CANNOT ASK ME THIS. ♪
>> YET ONE CHILD IN PARTICULAR, AND ISN'T THIS ALWAYS THE CASE, DEMANDS EXTRA ATTENTION AND TLC. >> CAN WE HAVE MORE IMPORTANT --
>> AT THE MET, THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTION, WE WATCHED HIM WRANGLE 250 MUSICIANS AND
SINGERS FOR A PRODUCTION OF WAGNER, A STALWART OPERA THAT GAVE US "THE BRIDAL CHORUS." AND NEZET-SEGUIN'S
INTERPRETATIONS DO RIGHT BY THE MASTERS. >> WHAT I WANT IS TO RESPECT WHAT WAGNER WROTE IN THE SCORE.
SO IT'S VERY POETIC AND MAGICAL, WHAT'S REALLY INDIVIDUAL IS ME BEING COMPLETELY AT THE SERVICE OF THE COMPOSER.
>> YANNICK TOOK OVER THE PODIUM HERE IN 2018, AFTER HIS PREDECESSOR WAS FIRED FOR ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL
MISCONDUCT. FACING WEAK TICKET SALES AND PERPETUALLY STRAPPED FOR CASH, THE MET HAS HAD A HARD TIME
REBOUNDING FROM COVID AND HAS DIPPED INTO ITS ENDOWMENT TO COVER AROUND 10% OF ITS $300 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET.
>> MAESTRO TO THE PIT, PLEASE. >> THEY'VE TRIED COURTING A YOUNGER, MORE DIVERSE CROWD HERE BEFORE, BUT NEZET-SEGUIN IS
DOING IT, HE'S BETTING THAT NEW COMPOSERS, SOME ADAPTED FROM BEST-SELLING BOOKS AND HOLLYWOOD HITS WILL BRING IN A WIDER
AUDIENCE AND SHORE UP THE BOTTOM LINE. AND EARLY RESULTS SUGGEST HE IS RIGHT.
A RECENT PREMIERE OF THE OPERA "FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES" BASED ON A MEMOIR BY JOURNALIST CHARLES BLOW AND COMPOSED BY
JAZZ LEGEND TERENCE BLANCHARD SOLD OUT AND OUTSOLD THE CLASSIC RIGOLETTO "HEAR THAT SEASON." AND HALF THE SEATS WERE FILLED
BY FIRST-TIME OPERA GOERS. >> IT'S GREAT. I'M THINKING ALL OF THESE PEOPLE NEVER FELT COMPELLED OR DARE I
SAY WELCOMED TO COME HERE. AND THAT IS MY MISSION. >> THE FIRST-TIMERS WERE 50%. YOU SAW THAT AS BOTH A TRIUMPH,
BUT ALSO AN INDICTMENT. >> MOSTLY, IT'S A TREMENDOUS ENCOURAGEMENT TO CONTINUE IN THAT VEIN.
>> THE MET WILL PUT ON 17 NEW AND RECENT WORKS OVER THE NEXT FIVE SEASONS. THIS AT A PLACE THAT ONCE WENT
NEAR DECADES WITHOUT STAGING A NEW OPERA. THIS SPRING BROUGHT "CHAMPION," ANOTHER TERENCE BLANCHARD
COMPOSITION BASED ON THE COMPLICATED LIFE OF A BISEXUAL PRIZEFIGHTER. WHAT CAN'T YOU WRITE AN OPERA
ABOUT? >> HMM. NOTHING. >> HOW DO YOU THREAD THAT NEEDLE
BETWEEN EXPERIMENTING AND BRINGING IN NEW AUDIENCES BUT ALSO NOT UPSETTING THE TRADITIONALISTS?
>> THE TRUTH IS, I AM NOT NECESSARILY CONCERNED ABOUT NOT UPSETTING TRADITIONALISTS. I THINK PEOPLE WHO LOVE OUR ART
FORM ARE STILL GOING TO LOVE IT, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL GOING TO PLAY SOME PUCCINI AND VERDI. TO ME, IT'S NEVER ABOUT NOT
UPSETTING. AND IF SOME PEOPLE ARE UPSET, TOO BAD. THEY JUST DON'T HAVE TO COME TO
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. >> AND THAT'S ABOUT AS PRICKLY AS YOU'LL HEAR HIM GET. BEYOND YANNICK'S MUSICIANSHIP,
HIS REAL HALLMARK MIGHT BE HIS LIGHT TOUCH. >> LET'S DO IT ONE MORE TIME. >> TAKE THIS REHEARSAL FOR
"CHAMPION," THE FIRST TIME THE ORCHESTRA RHYTHM SECTION AND SINGERS PLAYED THE PIECE TOGETHER.
BUT ALSO THAT RARE COLLABORATION BETWEEN A CONDUCTOR AND A LIVING COMPOSER. >> HE GETS IT.
>> TERENCE BLANCHARD, A SEVEN-TIME GRAMMY WINNER IS THE FIRST BLACK COMPOSER IN THE MET'S HISTORY.
>> HE GETS THE STORY, THE WHOLE NOTION OF BRINGING THESE DIFFERENT STYLES OF MUSIC TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE REHEARSALS WITH THE ORCHESTRA, HE SAID, LISTEN, DON'T FOLLOW ME. LISTEN TO THE DRUMS.
MOST CONDUCTORS DON'T DO THAT. >> I'M THERE FOR YOU. OKAY, COOL. >> WE SAW FIRSTHAND YANNICK'S
LATONIA MOORE ASKED HIM TO SLOW THINGS DOWN. ♪ >> CAN YOU GO A HAIR SLOWER?
I REALLY WANT TO GET EVERYTHING OUT. >> YEAH. SO RIGHT FROM THE BASE.
>> IS THERE A WORRY, THOUGH, THAT YOUR AUTHORITY MIGHT BE UNDERCUT BY ALL OF THESE GOOD VIBES?
>> I THINK IT'S THE OLD CONCEPT OF AUTHORITY, WHICH IS, BECAUSE I SAY SO AND BECAUSE I CAN FIRE YOU, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT
TO DO. THAT'S NOT WORKING ANYMORE. AND I WILL GO EVEN FURTHER. EVEN THE MASTERS OF THE PAST,
FANTASTIC MUSICIAN, I RESPECT A LOT OF THIS, BUT YOU CAN HEAR SOME RECORDINGS WITH TOSCANINI, ESPECIALLY WITH FEARS, YOU COULD
HEAR THE FEAR IN HIS VOICE. THAT'S NOT EXPRESSIVE. >> YOU CAN DISCERN THAT? >> OH, YEAH.
I'M SURE YOU CAN. TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH ON THE STAGE IS ALREADY NERVE-RACKING. IF YOU HAVE A CONDUCTOR WHO'S
WAITING FOR YOU TO FAIL, IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN MORE NERVE-RACKING. THE MUSIC DOESN'T WIN.
THE MUSIC WINS WHEN EVERYBODY FEELS FREE TO EXPRESS WHO THEY ARE. >> YANNICK FOUND THAT FREEDOM
FOR HIMSELF AS EARLY AS GRADE SCHOOL. HERE HE IS LEADING AN IMAGINARY ORCHESTRA IN FRONT OF
CLASSMATES. HE STUDIED AT THE CONSERVATORY IN MONTREAL, A MUSIC TOWN WITH A CHURCH ON EVERY CORNER.
HE LED THE CHURCH CHOIR IN HIS TEENS AND TRAINED HIS EAR IN LESS FORMAL WAYS, TOO. >> I WOULD GO TO A RECORD STORE
AND BUY CDs. AND DISCOVER REPERTOIRE AFTER REPERTOIRE. I WANTED THEN TO HEAR EVERY
VERSION, AND BUY EVERY VERSION OF EVERY SYMPHONY. AND I'M NOT SHY TO SAY THAT IT SHAPED A LOT OF WHO I AM AS A
MUSICIAN. BECAUSE EVENTUALLY, I BECAME A COLLECTION OF LIKE 12,000 CDs. >> LAST WINTER, WE VISITED HIS
PARENTS AT YANNICK'S CHILDHOOD HOME, THE KIND OF FOLKS WHO KEEP EVERY CLIPPING. YANNICK TOLD US WHEN HE WAS A
BOY, HE COLLECTED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS, MAYBE 10,000 CDs. >> MORE THAN THAT. >> HE WASN'T EXAGGERATING?
>> NO, NO, NO, NOT AT ALL. >> WHERE DID YOU PUT THEM? >> HE MADE A SHELF. >> AND IT WAS HIS MOM THAT
MANAGED YANNICK'S SCHEDULE THROUGHOUT HIS 30s AS HE WORKED THE INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, GUEST CONDUCTING OVER 100 ORCHESTRAS.
HE MADE HIS MET DEBUT IN 2009, PERSISTENCE PAYING OFF. AND IF TODAY HE'S LIVING THE DREAM, HE'S ALSO CONSCIOUS TO
LIVE HIS LIFE. HE AND PIERRE GO ON THE ROAD TOGETHER. WE MET THEM AT A SPOT IN OLD
MONTREAL, WHERE THEY HAD CELEBRATED THEIR WEDDING. THEY MAKE A POINT OF GOING OUT AFTER EVERY PERFORMANCE.
>> FRIENDS, FAMILY, MEMBERS OF THE ORCHESTRA, COLLEAGUES. SOME PEOPLE TOGETHER TO EAT WELL AND DRINK A LITTLE.
>> OF ALL THE MUSICAL MOMENTS IN THE COUPLE'S HISTORY, WE WERE SURPRISED WHEN YANNICK HIGHLIGHTED THIS ONE.
THE TIME PIERRE AND CELINE DION CELEBRATED HIM ON A POPULAR QUEBEC TALK SHOW, A KIND OF MUSICAL "THIS IS YOUR LIFE."
>> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST MOVING MOMENTS OF MY LIFE. NOT EVERYONE CAN SAY THEY SUNG A DUET WITH CELINE DION.
>> BOCELLI, BARBRA STREISAND AND -- AND HERE. AND PIERRE. >> MAYBE IT'S A HARD TURN FROM
CELINE TO THE MET FOR MOST CONDUCTORS, BUT NOT SO FOR YANNICK NEZET-SEGUIN. YES, HE TAKES MUSIC SERIOUSLY
BUT RESISTS BEING TOO PRECIOUS ABOUT IT. HE IS TOO BUSY SMUDGING BOUNDARIES THAT HAVE LONG KEPT
SOME AUDIENCES AWAY FROM CLASSICAL MUSIC AND OPERA. >> I WOULD LOVE THAT WHEN I FINISH MY TIME ON EARTH, THAT NO
ONE EVER SAYS AGAIN, OH, CLASSICAL MUSIC, IT'S NOT FOR ME. IT'S FOR THE EDUCATED.
IT'S FOR THE RICH. IT'S FOR THE WHITE. WHATEVER IT IS. YOU KNOW, I WANT EVERYONE TO
FEEL OH, YEAH, I COULD LIKE IT, SOME OF IT. I DON'T LIKE MOZART, BUT I LIKE BLANCHARD.
FINE, BUT AT LEAST YOU FEEL THAT YOU COULD GO THERE, BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE SOMETHING FOR YOU.
>> WHAT WOULD PUCCINI AND >> WHAT WOULD PUCCINI AND VERDI AND WAGNER MAKE OF ALL OF THIS? ONE WOULD SUSPECT THAT THEY
WOULD JOIN IN THE APPLAUSE. THEY AFTER ALL WERE ONCE MUSICAL BOUNDARY PUSHERS, TOO.
>>> NOW, THE LAST MINUTE OF "60 MINUTES." >> TONIGHT'S STORY ABOUT THE SPERM WHALES OF DOMINICA RECALLS
ANOTHER MARITIME ADVENTURE. IN THE FALL OF 2019, WE REPORTED ON THE SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE COMEBACK OF GREAT WHITE SHARKS
ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST. BILL WHITAKER WENT TO CAPE COD WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF MARINE FISHERIES
AND TO NOVA SCOTIA WITH A RESEARCH ORGANIZATION TO SEE THE GIANT PREDATORS UP CLOSE, AS THEY ARE TAGGED AND EQUIPPED
WITH SATELLITE TRACKING TRANSMITTERS. TRANSMITTERS ATTACHED, THIS 12-FOOT SHARK, NOW NAMED SYDNEY,
WAS BACK IN THE WATER AND ITS TRACKER SHOWED HEADING SOUTH FOR THE CAROLINAS AND FLORIDA. ALTHOUGH SYDNEY'S SIGNAL HAS
BEEN LOST, THEY REPORT 87 OTHER SHARKS IT TAGGED ARE BEGINNING TO SWIM NORTH AGAIN FOR THE SUMMER.
I'M SHARYN ALFONSI. WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH