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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 E14

54m 24s / TV-G

Audra McDonald Sings "Dear Friend"

2m 20s

Winner of five Tony Awards and two Grammys, singer and actress Audra McDonald sings “Dear Friend” (from the musical “She Loves Me”) for the Great Performances 40th Anniversary Celebration at Lincoln Center in New York City.

40th Anniversary Celebration Preview

31s

In celebration of the series’ 40th anniversary on PBS, a stellar roster of diverse alumni gather to share their stories of what the series has meant to them, with reminiscences and performances by Julie Andrews, Audra McDonald, Don Henley, David Hyde Pierce, Josh Groban, Itzhak Perlman, Peter Martins, Patti Austin and Take 6, El?na Garan?a and Michael Bublé.

Josh Groban Sings “Not While I’m Around” from “Sweeney Todd"

International pop star Josh Groban sings “Not While I’m Around” from the musical “Sweeney Todd” for the Great Performances 40th Anniversary Celebration, held at Lincoln Center in New York City.

The Hollow Crown: Henry V

2m 35s

In this excerpt from Henry V, the king (Tom Hiddleston) rallies his English troops prior to battle with the French. Second only to Hamlet's to be or not to be, Henry V's "Band of Brothers" speech at Agincourt is one of the most famous speeches in English literature.

The Hollow Crown: Henry IV Part 2

3m 19s

Prince Hal (Tom Hiddleston) mourns the death of his father, King Henry IV (Jeremy Irons), and is forced to confront the weight of his new responsibility. This adaptation is part of "The Hollow Crown: Shakespeare's History Plays" series.

The Hollow Crown: Henry IV Part 1

3m 11s

Henry IV (Jeremy Irons) lectures his son, Prince Hal (Tom Hiddleston), on his poor and unprincelike conduct. This adaptation of "Henry IV, Part 1" airs Friday, September 27 at 9 p.m. and is part of "The Hollow Crown: Shakespeare's History Plays" series.

The Hollow Crown: Shakespeare's History Plays

1m

Shakespeare's “Richard II,” “Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2,” and “Henry V” stars a distinguished cast including Ben Whishaw, Jeremy Irons, Tom Hiddleston, Rory Kinnear, Simon Russell Beale, Michelle Dockery, and Patrick Stewart airs September 20 – October 11, 2013.

Tom Hiddleston Previews "The Hollow Crown"

1m 30s

Actor Tom Hiddleston previews The Hollow Crown, coming to PBS beginning Sept. 20, 2013. This ambitious four-part miniseries assembles four of Shakespeare's history plays — Richard II, Henry IV, Parts I & II, and Henry V — into a single chronological narrative.

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