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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 E2

1h 13m

Andrea Bocelli: Live in Central Park Preview

30s

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of this spectacular concert and experience the artistry of the world’s most popular tenor. Recorded on a rainy night in September 2011 in one of the world’s most iconic parks, stars Céline Dion, Tony Bennett, Chris Botti and David Foster joined classical performers for a mix of opera and pop as a gift of music to the city of New York.

PBS Arts from New York: Andrea Bocelli Live in Central...

30s

Beloved tenor Andrea Bocelli performs a free concert on Central Park's Great Lawn, with the New York Philharmonic conducted by its music director Alan Gilbert. Joining Bocelli on stage on this memorable night are Celine Dion, Tony Bennett, Chris Botti and David Foster. GREAT PERFORMANCES "Andrea Bocelli in Central Park" airs as part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival. 12/2/2011

Il Postino: Production Meeting

10m 19s

Take an inside look at the creative process behind the opera with footage of the cast and crew during an initial production meeting, including a speech from director Ron Daniels on his original vision for the opera. Il Postino from LA Opera starring Placido Domingo airs on Friday, November 25 at 9 pm, as part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival.

Il Postino: First Musical Rehearsal

3m 55s

See one of the first music rehearsals with the original cast of this new opera, including Cristina Gallardo-Domas rehearsing one of her solos. Il Postino from LA Opera starring Placido Domingo airs on Friday, November 25 at 9 pm, as part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival.

Il Postino from LA Opera

30s / TV-PG

Based on the Academy Award-winning 1994 Italian film andthe 1985 novel Ardiente Paciencia by Antonio Skarmeta, Il Postino tells the story of a young postman who discovers the courage to pursue his dreams through his daily deliveries the poet Pablo Neruda, played by Placido Domingo. Daniel Catan's Il Postino from LA Opera airs Friday, November 25 at 9 p.m. ET, as part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival.

Il Postino: Dress Rehearsal

3m 24s

Take a look behind the curtain of Daniel Catan's opera in this dress rehearsal and interview with composer Catan and LA Opera Senior VP Christopher Koelsh as they discuss the differences between the opera, the movie, and the book. Il Postino from LA Opera starring Placido Domingo airs on Friday, November 25 at 9 pm, as part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival.

Miami City Ballet Dances Balanchine and Tharp

30s / TV-G

This program will showcase the company's critically acclaimed performances of Balanchine's "Square Dance" (music by Antonio Vivaldi and Arcangelo Corelli) and "Western Symphony" (music by Hershy Kay) and Tharp's "The Golden Section" (music composed and performed by David Byrne). Miami City Ballet Dances Balanchine and Tharp airs Friday, October 28 at 9 p.m. as part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival.

Miami City Ballet's Edward Villella

6m 47s / TV-G

Edward Villella explains his ballet training as a child, dancing for Balanchine at the New York City Ballet for 18 years, and the artistic philosophy behind his work as Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet. See his dance company in Great Performances: Miami City Ballet Dances Balanchine & Tharp airing Friday October 28 at 9 p.m. (check local listings).

Hugh Laurie's Love Affair with the Blues

1m 58s

Hugh Laurie talks about his love of the blues and New Orleans in this behind the scenes interview. "GREAT PERFORMANCES: Hugh Laurie: Let Them Talk -- A Celebration of New Orleans Blues" premieres on PBS Sept. 30. Check local listings for times near you.

Hugh Laurie: Let Them Talk

30s / TV-PG

An American favorite for his award-winning role in the hit TV series House, the versatile British actor Hugh Laurie showcases his musical side in an atmospheric personal odyssey filmed on location in New Orleans. Hugh Laurie: Let Them Talk - A Celebration of New Orleans Blues airs on Great Performances Friday, September 30 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).

Placido Domingo: My Favorite Roles

30s / TV-G

The great Spanish tenor Placido Domingo looks back on his illustrious career - one which has been bountifully preserved on film and video. The celebrated tenor as he looks back and reflects with heartfelt candor on his choicest roles from opera houses around the world in this comprehensive performance documentary. The program airs Friday, September 23 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).

A Concert for New York

30s / TV-G

In remembrance and renewal, THIRTEEN'S Great Performances will broadcast A Concert for New York, performed by the New York Philharmonic on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, led by Music Director Alan Gilbert, taped the previous night at a free concert in Avery Fisher Hall at New York's Lincoln Center. The concert will air Sunday, September 11 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

Il Trovatore

31s / TV-G

Marcelo Alvarez, Sondra Radvanovsky, Dolora Zajick, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky reprise their performances in David McVicar's lauded production. Verdi's Il Trovatore, starring four of the world's most celebrated interpreters of the leading roles and conducted by Marco Armiliato, will air on THIRTEEN's Great Performances at the Met Sunday, August 28 at 12 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night 2011

31s / TV-G

Distinguished conductor Valery Gergiev leads the third annual Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night concert to be telecast on Great Performances, Friday, August 19, 2011 at 9:30 p.m. on PBS (check local listings). This year's theme revolves around "Virtuoso Pictures," as exemplified by the works of Franz Liszt, Niccolo Paganini, Modest Mussorgsky, and Johann Strauss.

Capriccio

31s / TV-G

Renee Fleming sings one of her signature roles, the elegant Countess in Richard Strauss's Capriccio, on Great Performances at the Met Sunday, August 14 at 12 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings). Andrew Davis, who led the Met premiere of the opera in 1998, returned to conduct its first revival.

GP at the Met: Le Comte Ory

31s / TV-G

A trio of bel canto stars--Juan Diego Florez, Diana Damrau, and Joyce DiDonato--headline the Met's first-ever production of Le Comte Ory, Rossini's final comic masterpiece. Bartlett Sher's hit production will air on Great Performances at the Met Sunday, July 24 at 12 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

Rigoletto from Mantua: "La Donna e Mobile"

2m 37s / TV-G

In this clip from Rigoletto from Mantua, a filmic adaptation of the opera starring Placido Domingo, tenor Vittorio Grigolo as the womanizing Duke of Mantua sings the well known classic canzone, "La Donna e Mobile," known as showcase for operatic tenors. Rigoletto from Mantua airs July 15 at 9:30 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

Rigoletto from Mantua

30s / TV-G

Directed by Marco Bellocchio, Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto from Mantua stars Placido Domingo as Rigoletto; Julia Novikova as his daughter Gilda; Vittorio Grigolo as the Duke; and Ruggero Raimondi as the assassin Sparafucile. Recorded in Mantua, Italy and broadcast live around the world on September 4 and 5, 2010, that broadcast airs Friday, July 15 at 9:30 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).

GP at the Met: Lucia di Lammermoor

31s / TV-PG

Lucia di Lammermoor, with French soprano Natalie Dessay in one of her greatest roles as Donizetti's fragile heroine, will air on Great Performances at the Met Sunday, June 26 at 12 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings). In New York, THIRTEEN will air the production on Thursday, June 23 at 8 p.m.

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