Purlie Victorious Leslie Odom Jr and cast

Great Performances

Arts and Music Series / 5 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 E15

2h 9m / TV-14

Semiramide - Trailer

29s

Experience Rossini’s masterpiece starring Angela Meade as Queen Semiramide and Elizabeth DeShong as Arsace, the Queen’s fiancé and her own son. Javier Camarena, Ildar Abdrazakov and Ryan Speedo Green complete the cast. Maurizio Benini conducts.

Behind the Scenes with Composer Peter Boyer

2m 13s

In this behind-the-scenes clip, Peter Boyer gives insight into how the orchestration, dramatic readings and historic visuals work in tandem to make his Grammy-nominated composition "Ellis Island: The Dream of America," a moving musical experience.

The story of an immigrant child's journey to Ellis Island

3m 42s

In this excerpt, Camryn Manheim performs the words of 10-year-old Russian immigrant Katherine Beychok, who traveled to America in 1910 and wrote about her experience seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time.

Excerpt from composer Peter Boyer’s “Ellis Island: The Dream

2m 49s

Using historic Ellis Island images, this Grammy-nominated score by Peter Boyer and performed by Pacific Symphony celebrates the American immigrant experience.

Ellis Island: The Dream of America with Pacific Symphony

30s

THIRTEEN’s Great Performances and Pacific Symphony, led by music director Carl St.Clair, pay tribute to America’s history with a performance of composer Peter Boyer’s “Ellis Island: The Dream of America,” a Grammy-nominated contemporary classical work celebrating the historic American immigrant experience.

The Groundbreaking Ceremony of Lincoln Center

1m 48s

With remarks by Leonard Bernstein and President Eisenhower, plus music by the New York Philharmonic, Juilliard Chorus, and the Metropolitan Opera, ground broke on Lincoln Center.

The Chandeliers - How an Accident Became Art

2m 46s

Architect Kyna Leski breaks down her father's story on how a wonderful accident while drawing the chandeliers became one of the most aesthetically pleasing additions to The Opera House.

The Opera House - Preview

30s

Explore the rich history of the Met Opera’s Lincoln Center home and the cultural life of 1950s-60s New York City. Features famed soprano Leontyne Price, the Met’s general manager Rudolf Bing, city planner Robert Moses and architect Wallace Harrison.

La Boheme Trailer

30s

See the classic Puccini opera starring Sonya Yoncheva as Mimì and Michael Fabiano as Rodolfo. In 1830s Paris, the budding romances of two couples are tested by jealousy, poverty and illness. Marco Armiliato conducts.

L’Elisir d’Amore: " Una Furtiva Lagrima"

1m 41s

Season 12 of Great Performances at the Met continues Sunday, April 29 at 12:00 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) with Donizetti’s classic comic opera L’Elisir d’Amore. Pretty Yende portrays the feisty Adina, opposite Matthew Polenzani as Nemorino, with Davide Luciano as Belcore and Ildebrando D’Arcangelo as Dulcamara.

L’Elisir d’Amore: “Quanto amore”

2m 14s

Season 12 of Great Performances at the Met continues Sunday, April 29 at 12:00 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) with Donizetti’s classic comic opera L’Elisir d’Amore. Pretty Yende portrays the feisty Adina, opposite Matthew Polenzani as Nemorino, with Davide Luciano as Belcore and Ildebrando D’Arcangelo as Dulcamara.

#thatPower

1m 53s

Special guests Eva Simons, Pia Mia and Lydia Lucy (The Voice UK) join will.i.am for dynamic performances of “Scream & Shout,” “#thatPower,” “Heartbreaker” and more in this one-night-only concert experience. will.i.am chose his second hometown of London for this special event.

Will.i.am, Taboo & apl.de.ap sing "Where Is the Love?"

6m 55s

Award-winning artist, writer and producer will.i.am reunites with Taboo and apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas on stage and performs the hit song “Where Is The Love? with Lydia Lucy (The Voice UK).

Supported by