Great Performances

Watch Great Performances

  • TV-G
  • 1972
  • 51 Seasons
  • 7.9  (886)

Great Performances is a television anthology series dedicated to the performing arts, airing on PBS since 1972. The long-running show features performances of music, dance, opera, theater, and other artistic genres from around the world. Great Performances offers viewers a front-row seat to outstanding performances captured live on stage or filmed on location.

The series has been a staple of PBS programming for over 50 years, making Great Performances one of the longest-running programs on American television. Over the decades, the show has covered a diverse array of artists and genres ranging from classical music to contemporary pop, with legendary stars like Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, and Mikhail Baryshnikov gracing the Great Performances stage.

Great Performances captures the electricity of live performance and allows viewers to experience the arts in an intimate, up-close setting. The show’s production values are impeccable, filming on location at renowned venues like the Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center, and Covent Garden. State-of-the-art techniques like multiple camera angles, careful audio mixing, and HD video create a visually stunning and sonically rich experience for home audiences.

The series also provides illuminating background and interviews with the featured artists, giving context about the material and offering insight into their creative process. Viewers get a multifaceted look at what goes into live performance at the highest level. Whether showcasing emerging talent or superstar artists, Great Performances offers an unparalleled look at the vibrant world of the performing arts.

Over its long history, Great Performances has been recognized with numerous awards including over 70 Emmy Awards. The show has also featured important talent behind the camera like distinguished directors Kirk Browning and John Caird. Great Performances continues to evolve with the times, integrating digital media and exploring new frontiers like dance for film. However, the core mission remains to showcase diverse world-class arts programming not found anywhere else on television.

For over five decades, Great Performances has made the performing arts accessible to millions who otherwise might not have the opportunity. The show has nurtured a deeper love and appreciation for music, theater, dance, and culture. Whether you’re a seasoned aficionado of the arts or someone looking to broaden your horizons, Great Performances offers an engaging look at incredible artistry that both entertains and inspires.

Great Performances is a series that is currently running and has 51 seasons (269 episodes). The series first aired on November 4, 1972.

Great Performances
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Seasons
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Honor one of the most beloved stars in country music history with this all-star tribute concert.
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From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2024
4. From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2024
January 1, 2024
Celebrate the new year with this beloved annual concert featuring the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein. Hosted for the seventh consecutive year by PBS favorite Hugh Bonneville, the concert will include waltzes and polkas by Johann Strauss II, Josef Strauss, Eduard Strauss as well as favorites by Joseph Hellmesberger, Jr. and others. Guest conducted by three-time Grammy nominee Christian Thielemann and featuring dances choreographed by Davide Bombana with soloists from the Vienna State Ballet.
Making Shakespeare: The First Folio
3. Making Shakespeare: The First Folio
November 17, 2023
Celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio, which saved 18 plays from being lost. Tracing the First Folio’s story, the film also spotlights how New York City’s Public Theater presents Shakespeare’s work for today’s audiences.
Message in a Bottle
2. Message in a Bottle
November 3, 2023
Experience five-time Olivier Award nominee Kate Prince’s dance and theater show set to the songs of 17-time Grammy winner Sting. Telling the story of a migrant family, the show from London’s Sadler's Wells Theatre features a mix of dance styles.
New York City Ballet in Madrid
1. New York City Ballet in Madrid
October 27, 2023
Captured in peak performance at Madrid’s Teatro Real, New York City Ballet performs two masterpieces choreographed by NYCB co-founder and original Artistic Director George Balanchine, “Serenade” and “Square Dance" as well as a piece by current resident choreographer Justin Peck.
Description
Where to Watch Great Performances
Great Performances is available for streaming on the PBS website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Great Performances on demand at Vudu and PBS.
  • Premiere Date
    November 4, 1972
  • IMDB Rating
    7.9  (886)