Now Hear This “Old Friends”
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.
Episodes
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Leonard Bernstein's Kaddish Symphony
S50 E23 - 49m 7s
Performed from Highland Park’s Ravinia Festival, Great Performances presents legendary composer Leonard Bernstein’s Kaddish symphony featuring the talent of Uniting Voices (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir), Chicago Symphony Chorus and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
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Richard III
S50 E19 - 2h 19m
Experience The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Shakespeare’s tragedy with one of his most indelible villains starring Danai Gurira in the title role. Recorded live in July 2022 from Central Park.
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Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best
S50 E18 - 1h 25m
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.
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Moving soon to WETA Passport
Now Hear This “Albéniz: Portraits of Spain”
S50 E16 - 54m 25s
Discover the inspirations Spain provided composer Isaac Albéniz with host Scott Yoo, guitarist Manuel Barrueco, and pianist Juan Pérez Floristán along with musicians from Albéniz’s birthplace in the Pyrenees mountains as well as Sevilla, Mallorca and more.
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Moving soon to WETA Passport
Now Hear This “Andy Akiho Found (his) Sound”
S50 E15 - 53m 34s
Experience the creation of music from this Japanese American composer with host Scott Yoo using “found” instruments. To develop a music video, the two visit New York City and explore the creative process with an interactive light show and more.
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Moving soon to WETA Passport
Now Hear This “Schumann: Genius and Madness”
S50 E14 - 53m 25s
Visit Scotland, Germany and France with host Scott Yoo as he investigates the connection between Robert Schumann’s bipolar disorder and creative genius via experts, musical performances and examining the work of other artists outside world of music.
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Moving soon to WETA Passport
Now Hear This “Piazzolla’s History with Tango”
S50 E13 - 53m 55s
Tango to Buenos Aires, Argentina, with host Scott Yoo and flutist Alice Dade to explore the evolution of composer Astor Piazzolla’s work and the music genre itself as it becomes fused with jazz across time and numerous instruments.
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Remember This
S50 E10 - 1h 53m
Experience Academy Award nominee David Strathairn as reluctant World War II hero and Holocaust witness, Jan Karski, in this one-man true story of moral courage and individual responsibility.
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The Magic of Spirituals
S50 E9 - 54m 25s
Glimpse behind the curtain at opera legends Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman’s famed concert at Carnegie Hall on March 18, 1990, featuring performance clips and new interviews with opera star Angel Blue, Met Opera General Manager Peter Gelb and more.
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Josh Groban's Great Big Radio City Show
S50 E6 - 1h 50m
Experience the world-renowned baritone performing songs from many musical genres alongside several special guest stars including Cyndi Lauper, Denée Benton, New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck and more.
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NY Phil Reopening of David Geffen Hall
S50 E5 - 1h 22m
Celebrate this newly reopened home of the New York Philharmonic with a performance of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” conducted by the NY Phil’s Music Director Jaap van Zweden along with a world premiere by Puerto Rican composer Angélica Negrón.
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Intimate Apparel
S50 E2 - 2h 11m
Experience the story of seamstress Esther who begins writing to a mysterious suitor laboring on the Panama Canal. Featuring music by Ricky Ian Gordon, a libretto by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, this powerful opera is directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher.
Extras + Features
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Allan Clayton Performs "To be, or not to be"
S50 E4 - 2m
Allan Clayton performs an excerpt from Hamlet's famous Act I soliloquy, "To be, or not to be" in the Met's contemporary opera based on Shakespeare’s masterpiece.
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Great Performances at the Met: Hamlet Preview
S50 E4 - 30s
Experience this contemporary opera based on Shakespeare’s masterpiece directed by Neil Armfield and composed by Brett Dean. Starring Allan Clayton in the title role, mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly as Gertrude, and baritone Rod Gilfry as Claudius.
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NY Phil Performs Angélica Negrón's "You Are the Prelude"
S50 E5 - 2m 11s
The New York Philharmonic performs the world premiere of "You Are the Prelude," a new piece by composer by Angélica Negrón with text by Ricardo Alberto Maldonado.
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Behind the Scenes of the Reopening of David Geffen Hall
S50 E5 - 1m 1s
Go behind the scenes of the reopening of David Geffen Hall with some of its musicians preparing for the reopening concert.
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NY Philharmonic Reopening of David Geffen Hall Preview
S50 E5 - 30s
Celebrate the New York Philharmonic's return to its revitalized home. Under the baton of Music Director Jaap Van Zweden the concert features performances from soloists Joélle Harvey, Kelley O’Connor, Issachah Savage and Davóne Tines.
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NY Phil Plays Beethoven's "Ode to Joy"
S50 E5 - 2m
Joined by the NY Phil Chorus, the orchestra plays the finale of Beethoven's Symphony No.9, "Ode to Joy" in the newly reopened David Geffen Hall.
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Great Performances at the Met: Lucia di Lammermoor Preview
S50 E3 - 30s
Soprano Nadine Sierra returns to the stage in one of the most formidable and storied roles, the haunted heroine Lucia di Lammermoor, in a production with new staging by Australian theater and film director Simon Stone, conducted by Riccardo Frizza.
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Nadine Sierra Performs "Regnava nel Silenzio"
S50 E3 - 1m 34s
Nadine Sierra returns to the stage as the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor. Listen to the soprano perform the Act I aria "Regnava nel Silenzio."
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Intimate Apparel Preview
S50 E2 - 30s
Experience the story of seamstress Esther who begins writing to a mysterious suitor laboring on the Panama Canal. Featuring music by Ricky Ian Gordon, a libretto by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, this powerful opera is directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher.
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Behind the Scenes of "Intimate Apparel"
S50 E2 - 3m 7s
Lynn Nottage speaks with the cast members who both have played the title role and how Nottage reimagined her play as an opera.
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No One Does it For Us
S50 E2 - 3m 4s
Esther (Kearstin Piper Brown) and Mayme (Krysty Swann) imagine a world in which they can achieve their dreams for the future.
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Who is George Armstrong?
S50 E2 - 2m 46s
Esther (Kearstin Piper Brown) receives a letter from George Armstrong (Justin Austin), a mysterious suitor working in the Panama Canal.
Schedule
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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. -
Image
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. -
Image
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. -
Image
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. -
Image
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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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. -
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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
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
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
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.
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