Great Performances Season 48 Episodes

Episode 1

Romeo and Juliet

Fri, Sep 11, 2020

Shakespeare's tragic love story is performed by dancers from The Royal Ballet with a score by Sergei Prokofiev. There is no dialogue.

Episode 2

Now Hear This: Haydn King of Strings

Fri, Sep 18, 2020

The work and career of composer Joseph Haydn, who borrowed music from Scotland, Hungary and Austria to create "Emperor Quartet"; host Scott Yoo.

Episode 3

Now Hear This: The Schubert Generation

Fri, Sep 25, 2020

Host Scott Yoo and young musicians celebrate the work of composer Franz Schubert.

Episode 4

Now Hear This: Becoming Mozart

Fri, Oct 2, 2020

Scott Yoo visits music by Mozart with Stewart Goodyear. Commentary from Julie Andrews, Walter Cronkite and Placido Domingo

Episode 5

GRAMMY Salute to Music Legends

Fri, Oct 16, 2020

Recording Academy Lifetime achievement award winners for 2020.

Episode 6

One Man, Two Guvnors

Fri, Nov 6, 2020

Set in 1960s Brighton, a musician is employed by two men in Richard Bean's comedy based upon the Italian farce "The Servant of Two Masters" circa 1750.

Episode 7

Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles

Fri, Nov 13, 2020

The history of the musical and its reach across time and cultures; featuring Sheldon Harnick, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Joel Grey, Topol, Harvey Fierstein and cast members of the 2015 Broadway revival.

Episode 8

Lea Salonga In Concert

Fri, Nov 27, 2020

Singer Lea Salonga, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, performs selections from her Broadway career, as well as hits from "Aladdin" and "Mulan"; from the Sydney Opera House.

Episode 9

From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2021

Fri, Jan 1, 2021

Episode 10

The Magic of Callas

Fri, Jan 15, 2021

Rufus Wainwright, Thomas Hampson and Kristine Opolais are among those who offer insights and commentary about Maria Callas' 1964 performance in "Tosca" at London's Royal Opera House.

Episode 11

The Magic of Horowitz

Fri, Jan 22, 2021

Features extended excerpts from Horowitz's 1986 Moscow concert. Hosted by Peter Gelb, Horowitz's manager at the time of the concert, it includes comments from some of today's musicians.

Episode 12

Movies for Grownups Awards With AARP the Magazine

Sun, Mar 28, 2021

Celebrating and encouraging films with unique appeal to moviegoers aged 50 and older, and the artists who make them; George Clooney receives the Career Achievement Award.

Episode 13

Beethoven in Beijing

Fri, Apr 16, 2021

Beethoven in Beijing spotlights the resurgence of classical music in China through the legacy of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the first American orchestra to perform in China in 1973. Following the end of China's Cultural Revolution, when Western classical music was banned in favor of politically themed works, the onset of "Beethoven fever" began. Narrated by American and Chinese musicians and historians, the film explores the impact of the Philadelphia Orchestra's historic tour on China both then and now. Renowned musicians, including Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun, Philadelphia-trained famed classical pianist Lang Lang, Philadelphia Orchestra and Metropolitan Opera music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and more share their stories of how Beethoven's music shaped their careers as China's classical music scene boomed. Featuring archival footage and first-person recollections from American and Chinese musicians, the documentary brings the 1973 visit to life alongside a behind-the-scenes look at present-day tours capturing the dynamism of China, from its new concert halls to its tens of thousands of young musicians.

Episode 14

Romeo and Juliet

Fri, Apr 23, 2021

This stylized film of Shakespeare's masterpiece from the National Theatre celebrates the theatrical imagination. In this contemporary retelling, a company of actors in a shuttered theater (due to the COVID-19 shutdown) bring to life the tale of two young lovers who strive to transcend a world of violence and hate. Josh O'Connor and Jessie Buckley star as Shakespeare's immortal star-crossed lovers.

Episode 15

Uncle Vanya

Fri, May 7, 2021

This story begins as Sonya and her Uncle Vanya throw their lives into maintaining the crumbling family estate occasionally visited by the radical and inspiring local doctor, Astrov. However, when Sonya's father, Professor Serebryakov, suddenly returns with his restless, alluring new wife, Yelena, long-hidden truths begin to emerge.

Episode 16

The Arts Interrupted

Fri, May 14, 2021

Episode 17

Mick Fleetwood & Friends

Sat, Jun 5, 2021

This concert honors the early years of Fleetwood Mac and founding member Peter Green. It features various artists including Pete Townshend, Billy Gibbons, Steven Tyler, David Gilmore, Noel Gallagher, Christine McVie, and more. Broadcast from the London Palladium.

Episode 18

Andrea Bocelli: Believe

Sat, Jun 5, 2021

Enjoy the songs of the beloved tenor's 2020 album recorded on location in Malta. Selections performed include "Gratia Plena," a duet with Cecilia Bartoli, and new interpretations of "Ave Maria" and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."

Episode 19

Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2020

Fri, Jun 25, 2021

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performs selections by Strauss, Wagner, Offenbach, Puccini and more from the Schonbrunn Palace Gardens; with tenor Jonas Kaufmann.

Episode 20

Gloria Estefan: Sangre Yoruba

Fri, Jul 9, 2021

Gloria Estefan journeys through three of Brazil's most influential cities, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Salvador, with Estefan as narrator and host, discussing the history of Samba and its many variations. Featuring regional celebrities like Maria Rita, Carlinhos Brown and Jorge Arãgo, the documentary looks at the African origins of Brazilian music and specific sites that have inspired artists.

Episode 21

Roots of Latin Jazz

Fri, Jul 16, 2021

Host Sheila E. joins us in celebrating the rhythms of Latin music with the Raices Jazz Orchestra and performances by GRAMMY-winning artists including Richard Bona and Anaadi. This program is a co-presentation of Great Performances and the Latino Public Broadcasting VOCES, which is PBS' signature Latino arts and culture documentary showcase and the only ongoing national television series devoted to exploring and celebrating the rich diversity of the Latino cultural experience.

Episode 22

Broadway Beyond the Golden Age

Sat, Aug 14, 2021

Celebrities including Carol Burnett, Liza Minnelli and Dick Van Dyke provide a glimpse inside Broadway, from 1959 to the early 1980s.

Episode 23

Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2021

Fri, Aug 27, 2021

Enjoy the Vienna Philharmonic's annual summer night concert with pianist Igor Levit under the direction of guest conductor Daniel Harding at Austria's Schönbrunn Palace. Musical selections: 1. Overture to "The Sicilian Vespers" (Giuseppe Verdi). 2. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 (Sergei Rachmaninoff). 3. Für Elise (Ludwig van Beethoven). 4. Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story", including "Prologue," "Somewhere," "Scherzo," "Mambo" (Leonard Bernstein). 5. Prelude to "The Afternoon of a Faun" (Claude Debussy). 6. "Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity" from "The Planets," Symphonic Suite, Op. 32 (Gustav Holst). 7. Viennese Spirit Waltz (Johann Strauss II).