Arts and Music

Great Performances

Great Performances brings the best in the performing arts from across America and around the world to a US television audience. It presents a diverse programming portfolio of classical music, opera, popular song, musical theater, dance, drama, and performance documentaries.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's 80th Anniversary: Extended Performance

2h 24m

Directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s 80th Anniversary features an all-star cast at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, including Michael Ball, Daniel Dae Kim, Maria Friedman, Audra McDonald, Julian Ovenden and more.

Episodes

  • Rodgers & Hammerstein's 80th Anniversary: Extended Performance: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Rodgers & Hammerstein's 80th Anniversary: Extended Performance

    S51 E22 - 2h 24m

    Directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s 80th Anniversary features an all-star cast at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, including Michael Ball, Daniel Dae Kim, Maria Friedman, Audra McDonald, Julian Ovenden and more.

  • Purlie Victorious: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Purlie Victorious

    S51 E21 - 1h 45m

    The comedic play tells the story of a Black preacher’s scheme to reclaim his inheritance and win back his church from a plantation owner.

  • Audra McDonald at the London Palladium: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Audra McDonald at the London Palladium

    S51 E20 - 1h 22m

    The winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards as well as two Grammy awards and an Emmy, Audra McDonald performs a repertoire of classic Broadway songs, including “I Am What I Am,” “Summertime,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” and many more.

  • Hamlet: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Hamlet

    S51 E19 - 2h 33m

    From The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park, experience this Shakespearean classic directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon featuring Tony Award nominee Ato Blankson-Wood (“Slave Play”) in the title role and Solea Pfeiffer as Ophelia (“Hadestown”).

  • Now Hear This “The Composer is Yoo”: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Now Hear This “The Composer is Yoo”

    S51 E17 - 54m 24s

    Follow host Scott Yoo’s journey to compose a piece of music for the first time. Seeking counsel from other composers, Yoo revisits his heritage in search of ideas, performs landmark pieces for inspiration and ultimately tests his work in progress.

  • Now Hear This “Old Friends”: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Now Hear This “Old Friends”

    S51 E16 - 53m 54s

    Explore how virtuosos become maestros and discover their guiding principles through host Scott Yoo’s long friendships with Grammy winner Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Richard Kogan and violinist Lynn Chang.

  • Now Hear This “Virtuosos”: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Now Hear This “Virtuosos”

    S51 E15 - 53m 24s

    Explore the work of two legendary virtuosos, Niccolò Paganini and Robert Johnson, along with stars of today, Augustin Hadelich and Keb Mo. Joined by Cirque du Soleil acrobats, discover the secrets of being a virtuoso.

  • Now Hear This “Rising Stars”: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Now Hear This “Rising Stars”

    S51 E14 - 53m 54s

    Visit Julliard Pre-College with Scott Yoo to play with some of tomorrow’s virtuosos and travel to Singapore to meet rising star, Chloe Chua, who reminds Yoo of the dedication and passion required to prepare for a professional career.

  • George Jones: Still Playin’ Possum: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    George Jones: Still Playin’ Possum

    S51 E11 - 1h 24m

    Honor one of the most beloved stars in country music history with this all-star tribute concert featuring Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Wynonna, Jelly Roll, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Lorrie Morgan, Justin Moore, Trace Adkins and more.

  • The LA Phil Celebrates Frank Gehry: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The LA Phil Celebrates Frank Gehry

    S51 E10 - 1h 24m

    Celebrate 20 years at Walt Disney Concert Hall with the LA Phil in a tribute to its architect. Led by Gustavo Dudamel, the concert includes a piece composed and conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, performances by Herbie Hancock and H.E.R., and more.

  • Making Shakespeare: The First Folio: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Making Shakespeare: The First Folio

    S51 E7 - 1h 53m

    Celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio, which saved 18 plays from being lost. Tracing the First Folio’s story, the film also spotlights how New York City’s Public Theater presents Shakespeare’s work for today’s audiences.

  • Message In A Bottle: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Message In A Bottle

    S51 E4 - 1h 25m

    Experience five-time Olivier Award nominee Kate Prince’s dance and theater show set to the songs of 17-time Grammy winner Sting. Telling the story of a migrant family, the show from London’s Sadler's Wells Theatre features a mix of dance styles.

Extras + Features

  • Will Liverman Performs as Malcolm X: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Will Liverman Performs as Malcolm X

    S51 E9 - 1m 25s

    Will Liverman performs as Malcolm X in '’We’re not askin’ Massa to sit at a lunch counter," an act II aria from "X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X."

  • X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X Preview

    S51 E9 - 30s

    Experience Anthony Davis’s groundbreaking opera directed by Tony nominee Robert O’Hara. The new staging portrays Malcolm as an Everyman whose story transcends time and space. Supported by a cast of young Met stars, Will Liverman sings Malcolm X.

  • From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2024 Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2024 Preview

    S51 E8 - 30s

    Celebrate the New Year with waltzes by Strauss and more performed from Vienna’s Musikverein by the famed orchestra led by guest conductor Christian Thielemann. PBS favorite Hugh Bonneville returns to host.

  • The Beautiful Blue Danube: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Beautiful Blue Danube

    S51 E8 - 3m 15s

    The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performs Johann Strauss II's "The Beautiful Blue Danube."

  • Great Performances at the Met: Die Zauberflöte Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Great Performances at the Met: Die Zauberflöte Preview

    S51 E6 - 30s

    Experience director Simon McBurney’s Met debut with a new production of this Mozart favorite. Nathalie Stutzmann conducts with Lawrence Brownlee as Tamino, Erin Morley as Pamina, Thomas Oliemans as Papageno and Kathryn Lewek as the Queen of the Night.

  • The Stolen First Folio: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Stolen First Folio

    S51 E7 - 4m 21s

    In 1998 in Durham, England, a First Folio vanishes without a trace. A series of experts weigh in on how the folio vanished, and recount the story of how it was found.

  • Making Shakespeare: The First Folio Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Making Shakespeare: The First Folio Preview

    S51 E7 - 30s

    Celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio, which saved 18 plays from being lost. Tracing the First Folio’s story, the film also spotlights how New York City’s Public Theater presents Shakespeare’s work for today’s audiences.

  • Great Performances at the Met: Champion Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Great Performances at the Met: Champion Preview

    S51 E5 - 30s

    Six-time Grammy Award–winning composer Terence Blanchard returns to the Met with an opera based on the true story of boxer Emile Griffith, who rose from obscurity to become a world champion despite being a closeted bisexual.

Schedule

  • Image
    Great Performances: Rodgers & Hammerstein's 80th Anniversary: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Rodgers & Hammerstein's 80th Anniversary

    Saturday
    Jun 29

    2 Hours

    Aaron Tveit, Patrick Wilson and more perform songs from musicals by Rodgers & Hammerstein including "Carousel," "South Pacific," "The King and I" and "The Sound of Music."

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