Now Hear This “Virtuosos”
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.
Episodes
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Great Performances: Keeping Company with Sondheim
S49 E29 - 1h 13m
Take an inside look at the reimagined gender-swapped production as it returns to Broadway during the COVID-19 pandemic. Features new interviews with Tony and Grammy-winning cast members Katrina Lenk, Patti LuPone, Sondheim and more.
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Great Performances: Merry Wives
S49 E28 - 1h 49m
Experience Shakespeare’s comedic masterpiece from the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park set in South Harlem telling the story of the trickster Falstaff and the wily wives who outwit him in a celebration of Black joy, laughter and vitality.
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Great Performances: Anything Goes
S49 E27 - 2h 20m
Enjoy this London production of Cole Porter’s classic musical led by Sutton Foster who reprises her Tony-winning role as Reno Sweeney directed by Kathleen Marshall with favorite songs like “I Get A Kick Out of You” and “You’re the Top.”
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Now Hear This "New American Voices"
S49 E25 - 54m 25s
Scott Yoo discovers how American composers are inspired by their immigrant roots today through two composers: Brazilian-born Sergio Assad and Indian American Reena Esmail.
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Now Hear This "Aaron Copland: Dean of American Music"
S49 E24 - 54m 55s
Scott Yoo explores the life and work of Aaron Copland, and how he created the American sound.
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Now Hear This "Florence Price and the American Migration"
S49 E23 - 54m 25s
From Little Rock to Chicago, host Scott Yoo follows the trail of the great African American composer Florence Price.
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Now Hear This "Amy Beach: American Romantic"
S49 E22 - 53m 54s
Host Scott Yoo and his wife, flutist Alice Dade, perform the work of Romantic era classical composer Amy Beach at Festival Mosaic and uncover Beach’s many musical influences. Featuring performances of Beach’s works, the duo visits places Beach took inspiration from throughout her life, including an artist residency at MacDowell in New Hampshire.
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Great Performances: The Conductor
S49 E20 - 1h 24m
Follow Marin Alsop’s journey to become the first female music director of a major American symphony despite repeated rejection by the classical music industry. Features archival footage with her mentor Leonard Bernstein and is set to a soundtrack of her performances.
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Great Performances – Reopening: The Broadway Revival
S49 E16 - 54m
Go behind the scenes of Broadway as shows reunite, rehearse and re-stage for their long-awaited reopening nights while the theater industry learns how to turn the lights back on after its longest hiatus in history due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Coppelia
S49 E10 - 1h 16m
Enjoy this contemporary reboot of the 1870 classical ballet favorite. Blending live action ballet with CGI, the film features ballet stars Michaela DePrince and Daniel Camargo.
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Great Performances: San Francisco Symphony Reopening Night
S49 E9 - 1h 22m
Celebrate opening night of San Francisco Symphony’s 110th season as it welcomes its new GRAMMY-winning music director Esa-Pekka Salonen, featuring music by John Adams, esperanza spalding & Wayne Shorter and performances by Alonzo King LINES Ballet.
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Great Performances: A John Williams Premiere at Tanglewood
S49 E8 - 1h 24m
Experience a concert of works by legendary composer John Williams from Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer home at Tanglewood including Williams’ new violin concerto performed by virtuoso Anne-Sophie Mutter and other works conducted by Andris Nelsons.
Extras + Features
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Yonghoon Lee Performs "Nessun dorma"
S49 E34 - 45s
Yonghoon Lee sings an excerpt from Calàf’s Act III aria in Puccini’s "Turandot."
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Great Performances at the Met: Turandot Preview
S49 E34 - 30s
Enjoy opera superstar Liudmyla Monastyrska in the title role of the legendary cold-hearted princess. Marco Armiliato conducts Puccini’s score with tenor Yonghoon Lee as Calàf, the bold prince determined to win the princess' love. Nadine Sierra hosts.
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Cellist Gautier Capuçon Plays Concerto for Cello No.1
S49 E33 - 2m 30s
Guest cellist Gautier Capuçon plays Camille Saint-Säens’ Concerto for Cello No. 1 alongside the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
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Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2022 Preview
S49 E33 - 30s
Enjoy the Vienna Philharmonic’s annual summer night concert with cellist Gautier Capuçon under the direction of guest conductor Andris Nelsons at Austria’s Schönbrunn Palace.
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Viennese Spirit Waltz from Vienna Philharmonic
S49 E33 - 2m 28s
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performs Johann Strauss Jr.'s "Wiener Blut," also known as Viennese Spirit. This performance marks the 150th anniversary of this waltz, which Strauss debuted with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at their home at the Musikverein.
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Great Performances at the Met: Don Carlos Preview
S49 E32 - 30s
For the first time in its history, the Met presents the original five-act French version of Verdi’s epic opera of doomed love among royalty, set against the backdrop of the Spanish Inquisition. Watch this starry cast including tenor Matthew Polenzani in the title role, soprano Sonya Yoncheva as Élisabeth de Valois and Jamie Barton as Eboli.
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Jamie Barton sings "O Don Fatal"
S49 E32 - 1m 3s
Jamie Barton (Eboli) sings the Act IV aria "O Don Fatal" in the Metropolitan Opera's production of "Don Carlos."
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Lise Davidsen Sings "Es gibt ein Reich"
S49 E31 - 2m 35s
Soprano Lise Davidsen brings one of her signature roles to the Met for the first time as the mythological Greek heroine of Strauss’s enchanting masterpiece. Listen as she sings an excerpt from the aria "Es gibt ein Reich."
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Ariadne auf Naxos Preview
S49 E31 - 30s
Soprano Lise Davidsen brings one of her signature roles to the Met for the first time as the mythological Greek heroine of Strauss’ masterpiece.
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Piotr Beczała Performs "La donna è mobile"
S49 E30 - 2m 17s
Piotr Beczala sings Duke of Mantua's Act III aria in "Rigoletto."
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Great Performances at the Met: Rigoletto Preview
S49 E30 - 30s
Baritone Quinn Kelsey portrays the title role at the Met for the first time, starring alongside soprano Rosa Feola as Gilda and tenor Piotr Beczała as the Duke of Mantua. Maestro Daniele Rustioni leads Verdi’s timeless tragedy reset in 1920s Europe by Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher. Varduhi Abrahamyan plays Maddalena and Andrea Mastroni plays Sparafucile.
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"Cortigiani, vil razza dannata" from "Rigoletto"
S49 E30 - 4m 32s
Quinn Kelsey, performing as Rigoletto, performs the Act II aria "Cortigiani, vil razza dannata."
Schedule
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Great Performances
Now Hear This: Old Friends
Friday
Apr 26
1 Hour
Exploring how virtuosos become maestros and their guiding principles through Scott Yoo's friendships with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Richard Kogan and violinist Lynn Chang. -
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Great Performances
Now Hear This: Old Friends
Friday
Apr 26
1 Hour
Exploring how virtuosos become maestros and their guiding principles through Scott Yoo's friendships with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Richard Kogan and violinist Lynn Chang. -
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Great Performances
Now Hear This: Old Friends
Saturday
Apr 27
1 Hour
Exploring how virtuosos become maestros and their guiding principles through Scott Yoo's friendships with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Richard Kogan and violinist Lynn Chang. -
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Great Performances
Now Hear This: Old Friends
Saturday
Apr 27
1 Hour
Exploring how virtuosos become maestros and their guiding principles through Scott Yoo's friendships with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Richard Kogan and violinist Lynn Chang. -
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Great Performances
Now Hear This: Old Friends
Monday
Apr 29
1 Hour
Exploring how virtuosos become maestros and their guiding principles through Scott Yoo's friendships with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Richard Kogan and violinist Lynn Chang. -
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Great Performances
Now Hear This: Old Friends
Monday
Apr 29
1 Hour
Exploring how virtuosos become maestros and their guiding principles through Scott Yoo's friendships with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Richard Kogan and violinist Lynn Chang. -
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Great Performances
The Composer Is Yoo
Friday
May 3
1 Hour
Scott Yoo's journey composing a piece of music for the first time; Yoo revisits his heritage in search of ideas, performs landmark pieces and tests his work in progress. -
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Great Performances
The Composer Is Yoo
Friday
May 3
1 Hour
Scott Yoo's journey composing a piece of music for the first time; Yoo revisits his heritage in search of ideas, performs landmark pieces and tests his work in progress. -
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Great Performances
The Composer Is Yoo
Saturday
May 4
1 Hour
Scott Yoo's journey composing a piece of music for the first time; Yoo revisits his heritage in search of ideas, performs landmark pieces and tests his work in progress. -
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Great Performances
The Composer Is Yoo
Sunday
May 5
1 Hour
Scott Yoo's journey composing a piece of music for the first time; Yoo revisits his heritage in search of ideas, performs landmark pieces and tests his work in progress.
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