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.

Now Hear This “The Composer is Yoo”

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.

Episodes

  • Now Hear This "Beethoven's Ghost": asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Now Hear This "Beethoven's Ghost"

    S49 E6 - 54m 25s

    Go inside the mind of a genius as host Scott Yoo and fellow musicians undertake a recording of Beethoven's most personal music at a historic Berkshires manor to explore the composer’s brilliant career—where they are visited by some unexpected guests.

  • The Red Shoes: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Red Shoes

    S49 E3 - 1h 37m

    Experience Hans Christian Andersen’s dark fairytale from acclaimed director-choreographer Matthew Bourne with this Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation starring Ashley Shaw, Adam Cooper, Dominic North and Michaela Meazza.

  • Yannick – An Artist’s Journey: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Yannick – An Artist’s Journey

    S49 E1 - 1h 49m

    Experience the music director of the Metropolitan Opera’s meteoric rise to become one of the most acclaimed and sought-after music directors of his generation in this documentary from cinema verité filmmaker Susan Froemke.

Extras + Features

  • Sondheim and The Character of Bobby: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Sondheim and The Character of Bobby

    S49 E29 - 2m 20s

    Composer Stephen Sondheim, actress Cynthia Nixon and theatre critic Hilton Als discuss the character of Bobby, and how Sondheim's own relationship to his heterosexual, married friends may have influenced the character.

  • Changing Bobby to Bobbie in Broadway's "Company": asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Changing Bobby to Bobbie in Broadway's "Company"

    S49 E29 - 2m 36s

    Listen to Katrina Lenk (Bobbie), Cynthia Nixon and the Company cast discuss switching the gender of the character of Bobbie, and how it opened the door to switch other roles in the cast as well.

  • Keeping Company with Sondheim Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Keeping Company with Sondheim Preview

    S49 E29 - 30s

    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.

  • Changing Amy to Jamie in Broadway's "Company": asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Changing Amy to Jamie in Broadway's "Company"

    S49 E29 - 2m 43s

    Matt Doyle, Patti LuPone and Etai Benson discuss what went into gender-bending "I'm Not Getting Married Today," and how the added anxiety surrounding gay marriage added to the overall anxiety of the scene. Includes clips of the cast of Company performing the iconic song by Sondheim.

  • The Merry Wives' Revenge on Falstaff: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Merry Wives' Revenge on Falstaff

    S49 E28 - 4m 8s

    Madame Ford (Susan Kelechi Watson) and Madam Page (Pascale Armand) trick Falstaff (Jacob Ming-Trent) into thinking that he is about to be discovered by Mr. Ford. Meanwhile, Mr. Ford, thinking his wife has been unfaithful, arrives with his friends to try and catch her in the act.

  • Great Performances: Merry Wives Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Great Performances: Merry Wives Preview

    S49 E28 - 30s

    Experience Shakespeare’s comedic masterpiece from the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park. Set in South Harlem, the play tells the story of the trickster Falstaff and the wily wives who outwit him in a celebration of Black joy, laughter and vitality.

  • Falstaff's Plan and Pistol's Revenge: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Falstaff's Plan and Pistol's Revenge

    S49 E28 - 3m 1s

    Falstaff (Jacob Ming-Trent) tells Pistol (Joshua Echebiri) about his plan to woo Madam Ford and Madam Page by sending them identical love letters. Pistol, feeling long overlooked by Falstaff, sees his opportunity to enact his revenge.

  • Merry Wives Receive Falstaff's Letters: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Merry Wives Receive Falstaff's Letters

    S49 E28 - 2m 36s

    Madame Ford (Susan Kelechi Watson) and Madam Page (Pascale Armand) realize that Falstaff has sent them the same love letter and decide to enact their revenge.

Schedule

  • Image
    Great Performances: TVSS: Iconic

    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.
  • Image
    Great Performances: Hamlet: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Hamlet

    Friday
    May 10

    3 Hours

    A present-day take on Shakespeare's "Hamlet" features Ato Blankson-Wood in the title role and Solea Pfeiffer as Ophelia.
  • Image
    Great Performances: Hamlet: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Hamlet

    Friday
    May 10

    3 Hours

    A present-day take on Shakespeare's "Hamlet" features Ato Blankson-Wood in the title role and Solea Pfeiffer as Ophelia.
  • Image
    Great Performances: Hamlet: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Hamlet

    Saturday
    May 11

    3 Hours

    A present-day take on Shakespeare's "Hamlet" features Ato Blankson-Wood in the title role and Solea Pfeiffer as Ophelia.
  • Image
    Great Performances: Hamlet: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Hamlet

    Saturday
    May 11

    3 Hours

    A present-day take on Shakespeare's "Hamlet" features Ato Blankson-Wood in the title role and Solea Pfeiffer as Ophelia.
  • Image
    Great Performances: Hamlet: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Hamlet

    Sunday
    May 12

    3 Hours

    A present-day take on Shakespeare's "Hamlet" features Ato Blankson-Wood in the title role and Solea Pfeiffer as Ophelia.
  • Image
    Great Performances: Audra McDonald at the London Palladium: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Audra McDonald at the London Palladium

    Friday
    May 17

    1 Hour 30 Minutes

    Audra McDonald performs a repertoire of classic Broadway songs including "I Am What I Am," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Will He Like Me?" and "Summertime."
  • Image
    Great Performances: Audra McDonald at the London Palladium: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Audra McDonald at the London Palladium

    Friday
    May 17

    1 Hour 30 Minutes

    Audra McDonald performs a repertoire of classic Broadway songs including "I Am What I Am," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Will He Like Me?" and "Summertime."
  • Image
    Great Performances: Audra McDonald at the London Palladium: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Audra McDonald at the London Palladium

    Saturday
    May 18

    1 Hour 30 Minutes

    Audra McDonald performs a repertoire of classic Broadway songs including "I Am What I Am," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Will He Like Me?" and "Summertime."
  • Image
    Great Performances: Audra McDonald at the London Palladium: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Audra McDonald at the London Palladium

    Saturday
    May 18

    1 Hour 30 Minutes

    Audra McDonald performs a repertoire of classic Broadway songs including "I Am What I Am," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Will He Like Me?" and "Summertime."
  • Image
    Great Performances: Now Hear This: Andy Akiho Found (his) Sound: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Now Hear This: Andy Akiho Found (his) Sound

    Saturday
    May 18

    1 Hour

    Japanese American composer Andy Akiho creates music using found instruments; developing a music video.
  • Image
    Great Performances: Audra McDonald at the London Palladium: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Audra McDonald at the London Palladium

    Sunday
    May 19

    1 Hour 30 Minutes

    Audra McDonald performs a repertoire of classic Broadway songs including "I Am What I Am," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Will He Like Me?" and "Summertime."
  • Image
    Great Performances: Audra McDonald at the London Palladium: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Audra McDonald at the London Palladium

    Sunday
    May 19

    1 Hour 30 Minutes

    Audra McDonald performs a repertoire of classic Broadway songs including "I Am What I Am," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Will He Like Me?" and "Summertime."
  • Image
    Great Performances: Audra McDonald at the London Palladium: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Audra McDonald at the London Palladium

    Monday
    May 20

    1 Hour 30 Minutes

    Audra McDonald performs a repertoire of classic Broadway songs including "I Am What I Am," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Will He Like Me?" and "Summertime."
  • Image
    Great Performances: Audra McDonald at the London Palladium: TVSS: Iconic

    Great Performances

    Audra McDonald at the London Palladium

    Monday
    May 20

    1 Hour 30 Minutes

    Audra McDonald performs a repertoire of classic Broadway songs including "I Am What I Am," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Will He Like Me?" and "Summertime."

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