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

  • Black Lucy and The Bard: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Black Lucy and The Bard

    S50 E1 - 1h 24m

    Explore Shakespeare’s love life through the perspective of the “Dark Lady” in this work from Nashville Ballet based on poetry by Caroline Randall Williams and featuring an original score by GRAMMY winner Rhiannon Giddens.

Extras + Features

  • “Dei tuoi figli”: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    “Dei tuoi figli”

    S50 E20 - 2m 25s

    Sondra Radvanovsky performs "Dei tuoi figli" as the titular character in Medea.

  • The Duchess of York Curses Richard III: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Duchess of York Curses Richard III

    S50 E19 - 1m 46s

    The Duchess of York (Monique Holt) curses her son, Richard III (Danai Gurira) in American Sign Language as his lust for power grows.

  • Creating an Inclusive Richard III: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Creating an Inclusive Richard III

    S50 E19 - 1m 57s

    Danai Gurira, Ali Stroker and Monique Holt discuss how director Robert O'Hara prioritized diversity and inclusion in Richard III.

  • Highlights from Richard III: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Highlights from Richard III

    S50 E19 - 3m 11s

    Watch highlights from "Richard III," starring Danai Gurira, Ali Stroker and directed by Tony Award nominee Robert O’Hara.

  • Richard III Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Richard III Preview

    S50 E19 - 30s

    Experience The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Shakespeare’s tragedy starring Danai Gurira in the title role. Recorded live in July 2022 from Central Park.

  • Translating Shakespeare into ASL: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Translating Shakespeare into ASL

    S50 E19 - 2m 1s

    Monique Holt explains how she translates Shakespeare into ASL for her role of Duchess of York in Richard III.

  • Queen Margaret's Curses: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Queen Margaret's Curses

    S50 E19 - 3m 33s

    Queen Margaret (Sharon Washington) curses Richard III (Danai Gurira), Queen Elizabeth (Heather Alicia Simms) and the family of York.

  • Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best Preview

    S50 E18 - 30s

    Enjoy a revue of milestone Broadway shows and songs from 1973 to 2023 hosted by two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster. Features performances by André De Shields, Chita Rivera, Vanessa Williams and more from Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater.

Schedule

  • Great Performances: TVSS: Iconic

    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.
  • Great Performances: TVSS: Iconic

    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.
  • Great Performances: TVSS: Iconic

    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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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."
  • 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."
  • 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."
  • 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."
  • 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.
  • 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."

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