Purlie Victorious Leslie Odom Jr and cast

Great Performances

Arts and Music Series / 6 Seasons

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.

Watch Latest: S52 E10

53m 44s / TV-PG

Benedict Cumberbatch as Rosencrantz in Tom Stoppard Play

2m 59s / TV-14

Watch "Sherlock" star Benedict Cumberbatch play Rosencrantz and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith play Guildenstern in a scene from "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" by Tom Stoppard. The play was first performed at The National Theatre in 1967. Part of "National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage" airing 2/14/14.

Judi Dench Sings Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns"

2m 23s / TV-14

Judi Dench sings Stephen Sondheim's “Send in the Clowns” from the musical "A Little Night Music" (1973). Dench starred as Desiree in the musical's 1995 revival at the National Theatre. This performances is part of "National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage" airing February 14, 2014, on PBS.

Guys and Dolls: "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat"

3m 12s / TV-PG

In 1982, Richard Eyre’s multi-award-winning Olivier Theatre revival of "Guys and Dolls" became the biggest hit of the National Theatre's first 20 years. In this excerpt, Clive Rowe, who played Nicely-Nicely when Eyre revived his production at the National Theatre in 1996, leads an ensemble in "Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat.” Part of "Great Performances National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage."

Barrymore - Trailer

30s / TV-14

Christopher Plummer recreates his Tony Award-winning role playing the legendary actor John Barrymore in the film adaptation of William Luce's Broadway play. Set in 1942, the production centers on the acclaimed—and notorious— John Barrymore, capturing the star in the final months of his life as he struggles to prepare for a audition to stage a revival of his 1920 Broadway triumph, Richard III.

Barrymore Excerpt: Rehearsing "Richard III"

2m 54s / TV-14

John Barrymore (Christopher Plummer) banters with his line prompter Frank before beginning a rehearsal of "Richard III," in which he tries to remember the lines that once made him famous. "Barrymore" premieres Friday, January 30 at 9 pm ET on PBS. Check local listings.

Barrymore Excerpt: John Barrymore Introduces Himself

2m 26s / TV-14

In this opening scene excerpt, acting legend John Barrymore (Christopher Plummer) introduces himself to the audience. He explains the anticipated revival of his "Richard III" production and mixes a drink to toast his late friend and fellow alcoholic, Henry.

GP at the Met: Eugene Onegin

30s / TV-PG

Tchaikovsky’s romantic tragedy Eugene Onegin, starring Anna Netrebko, Mariusz Kwiecien, and Piotr Beczala, is the season premiere of THIRTEEN’s Great Performances at the Met. This past fall, Anna Netrebko opened her third consecutive Met season — which will mark her ninth Great Performances at the Met broadcast — in her company role debut as Tatiana, the naïve heroine from Pushkin’s classic novel.

From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2014 - Preview

35s

Julie Andrews hosts this annual New Year's Day celebration with the Vienna Philharmonic. Daniel Barenboim conducts a program of melodies by the Strauss family and their contemporaries. The City Palace (Stadtpalais Liechtenstein), which has returned to all its former glory after a renovation, is the setting for both of the Vienna State Ballet’s interludes featuring costumes by Vivienne Westwood.

Pavarotti: A Voice for the Ages - Preview

35s

This one-hour program airing in late November and December is dedicated to the great tenor, Luciano Pavarotti. It includes his performances of “Nessun Dorma” and other beloved arias from La Boheme, Rigoletto and Aida. See Pavarotti in some of his finest performances and in duet with Sting, Bono, Eric Clapton, and The Three Tenors.

Barbra Streisand: Back to Brooklyn - Preview

30s

The legendary Barbra Streisand makes a historic homecoming to Brooklyn at the new Barclays Center arena, marking the superstar’s first Brooklyn concert since her childhood years.

Sondheim's "Company" with the New York Philharmonic

30s

The New York Philharmonic’s concert staging of Stephen Sondheim’s award-winning musical Company includes the all-star cast of Craig Bierko, Stephen Colbert, Jon Cryer, Katie Finneran, Neil Patrick Harris, Christina Hendricks, Adam Lazar, Patti LuPone, Jill Paice, Martha Plimpton, Anika Noni Rose, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Jim Walton, and Chryssie Whitehead.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! - Preview

30s

Directed by Sir Trevor Nunn, and choreographed by Susan Stroman, the acclaimed Royal National Theatre production starring Hugh Jackman in his breakout role as cowpoke Curly reveals the work’s emotional complexity with a fresh approach. The special encore telecast is presented for the first time in high definition.

Hugh Jackman Sings "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top"

3m 4s

Hugh Jackman sings "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" in a scene with Maureen Lipman (Aunt Eller) and Josefina Gabrielle (Laurey) in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s "Oklahoma!"

Hugh Jackman Sings "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'"

3m

Hugh Jackman (Curly) sings "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" in a scene with Maureen Lipman (Aunt Eller) in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s "Oklahoma!" produced by the Royal National Theatre.

Patrick Summers on Conducting Moby-Dick

6m 18s

Patrick Summer is the conductor of San Francisco Opera's "Moby-Dick." He describes presenting new work as "one of the most vital things we do in the performing arts" and discusses how a living composer provides additional details beyond what's written in the score.

Moby-Dick Composer Jake Heggie

4m 56s

Composer Jake Heggie describes how the opera "Moby-Dick" came to be, his collaboration with Gene Scheer, and his love for singers. Before he writes, it's important to him to know the singers who will create the roles.

Moby-Dick: 24-hour Timelapse on Stage

8m 42s

This eight-minute timelapse video captures 24 hours on the stage of the San Francisco Opera, featuring the crew and cast of "Moby-Dick" in the modes of set-up, performance, and break-down of the set the next day --- all from an unusual aerial view.

Jonathan Lemalu, Queequeg in Moby-Dick

3m 29s

Jonathan Lemalu discusses his role of Queequeg in Moby-Dick. He describes how each production has researched tattoo patterns for him to wear. A Pacific Islander, Lemalu felt at ease with what the San Francisco Opera designed. He thinks of the harpooner's tattoos as his armor. See Lemalu in the broadcast on Friday, November 1, 2013, at 9 p.m.

Gene Scheer, Librettist of Moby-Dick

7m 10s

Gene Scheer, librettist of the opera Moby-Dick, describes his creative process in representing the novel. He sees the emotional journey of Ishmael (the narrator) and the harpooner Queequeg's influence on him as his best friend as the soul of the novel. After working six months on his own, Scheer traveled with composer Jake Heggie to Nantucket to collaborate. Premiering Friday, November 1, 2013.

Stephen Costello Performs Ishmael in Moby-Dick

5m 6s

Stephen Costello discusses his role as Ishmael, or "the Greenhorn" in the San Francisco Opera production of "Moby-Dick." Watch scenes of his duet with Jonathan Lemalu as Queequeg, and Costello's aria, "Human Madness."

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