Season 48

01 Romeo and Juliet Episode 111th September 2020 Experience a ballet of Shakespeare’s classic from choreographer Kenneth MacMillan performed by dancers from The Royal Ballet set to a score by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev filmed on atmospheric locations throughout Budapest. 02 Now Hear This “Haydn: King of Strings” Episode 218th September 2020 Explore the work of famed composer Joseph Haydn’s career with host Scott Yoo and featured guest artists as he discovers how Haydn borrowed folk music from Scotland, Hungary and Austria to create his famous “Emperor Quartet.” 03 Now Hear This “The Schubert Generation” Episode 325th September 2020 Celebrate the work of Franz Schubert with host Scott Yoo as he plays with young musicians establishing themselves in North America's musical capitals by attempting to master the composer’s music. 04 Now Hear This “Becoming Mozart” Episode 42nd October 2020 Join Scott Yoo, renowned violinist and conductor of the Mexico City Philharmonic, in Now Hear This Series 2, a four-part documentary miniseries presented by Great Performances that merges music, storytelling, travel and culture, as Yoo chases the secret histories of some of the greatest music ever written. 05 GRAMMY Salute to Music Legends® 2020 Episode 516th October 2020 In collaboration with the Recording Academy®, Great Performances presents GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends®, the fifth annual all-star concert offering a primetime spotlight for the Recording Academy’s 2020 Special Merit Awards recipients. The 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are Chicago, Roberta Flack, Isaac Hayes, Iggy Pop, John Prine, Public Enemy, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. 06 One Man, Two Guvnors Episode 66th November 2020 Featuring a Tony Award-winning performance by CBS Late Late Show host James Corden, the hilarious West End and Broadway hit One Man, Two Guvnors by playwright Richard Bean delighted critics and audiences alike during its West End and Broadway productions in 2011 and 2012. 07 Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles Episode 713th November 2020 Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles is the first in-depth documentary that chronicles the story of the international Broadway blockbuster "Fiddler on the Roof" – exploring the unexpected richness of its themes as well as its vast reach across time and cultures. 08 Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn Episode 824th November 2020 Roundabout Theatre Company’s festive production of Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn – The Broadway Musical returns to GREAT PERFORMANCES for a special seasonal encore. Inspired by the 1942 Academy Award-winning film starring Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby, Holiday Inn tells the story of Jim, a song & dance man who decides to leave Broadway’s bright lights to settle down at a Connecticut farmhouse. But country life isn’t quite what he expects until he meets Linda, the schoolteacher next door with talent to spare. Together, they turn his farmhouse into a seasonal inn with show-stopping performances to celebrate each holiday. But when Jim’s best friend Ted tries to lure Linda away to be his new Hollywood dance partner, will Jim be able to salvage another chance at love? Starring Bryce Pinkham, Lora Lee Gayer and Corbin Bleu, the score’s back-to-back Irving Berlin hits include “Cheek to Cheek,” “Easter Parade,” “White Christmas” and many more. 09 Lea Salonga in Concert Episode 927th November 2020 Captured in peak performance with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga performs the beloved songs she made famous throughout her Broadway career, as well as her signature songs from the animated movie blockbusters “Aladdin” and “Mulan” from the Sydney Opera House. 10 From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2021 Episode 101st January 2021 Ring in 2021 with host Hugh Bonneville joined by guest conductor Riccardo Muti and the Vienna Philharmonic performing a festive selection of Strauss Family waltzes. 11 The Magic of Callas Episode 1115th January 2021 Explore the legacy of superstar Maria Callas in this documentary detailing her 1964 comeback at London’s Royal Opera House in “Tosca,” featuring insights from fans including Rufus Wainwright and opera stars Thomas Hampson and Kristine Opolais. 12 The Magic of Horowitz Episode 1222nd January 2021 Experience legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz’s 1986 Russian homecoming for a sold-out concert of personal favorites, featuring commentary from former manager Peter Gelb and virtuoso pianists Martha Argerich and Daniil Trifonov. 13 Great Performances at the Met: Renée Fleming in Concert Episode 1319th March 2021 Experience the beloved American soprano perform arias by Puccini and Massenet to selections by Handel and Korngold from the intimate music salon of Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C. 14 Movies for Grownups® Awards 2021 with AARP The Magazine Episode 1428th March 2021 Watch actors and filmmakers as they are honored for creating films that resonate with older viewers in this star-studded awards ceremony. Celebrating movies that matter, the Awards champion movies for grownups, by grownups. 15 Great Performances at the Met: Jonas Kaufmann in Concert Episode 152nd April 2021 The superstar tenor sings a program of classic arias from the Baroque interior of the historic Polling Abbey located in the Bavarian countryside outside Munich, Germany. Selections from this performance include “Nessun dorma” from “Turandot,” “E lucevan le stelle” from “Tosca,” “Ah! lève-toi, soleil” from “Roméo et Juliette,” “La fleur que tu m’avais jetée” and many more. 16 Beethoven in Beijing Episode 1616th April 2021 Experience the international impact of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s historic 1973 trip to China, offering a story of cultural reversals and a glimpse into the worldwide future of classical music. 17 Romeo & Juliet Episode 1723rd April 2021 This stylized film of Shakespeare’s masterpiece from the National Theatre celebrates the theatrical imagination. In this contemporary retelling, a company of actors in a shuttered theater bring to life the tale of two young lovers who strive to transcend a world of violence and hate. Josh O’Connor and Jessie Buckley star as Shakespeare’s immortal star-crossed lovers. 18 Uncle Vanya Episode 187th May 2021 Tony Award nominee Conor McPherson breathes new life into Anton Chekhov’s masterpiece with his acclaimed adaptation of the drama, portraying life at the turn of the 20th century filled with tumultuous frustration, dark humor and hidden passions. 19 Great Performances at the Met: Lise Davidsen in Concert Episode 197th May 2021 The soprano performs arias and songs that brought her success around the world including selections from Wagner’s “Tannhäuser,” Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos,” Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” and more from Oslo’s Oscarshall Palace in Norway. 20 The Arts Interrupted Episode 2014th May 2021 Take an inside look at how arts organizations nationwide are surviving the pandemic and how they are maturing during the country’s reckoning with systemic racism, featuring interviews with artists and performances made during lockdown. 21 Great Performances at the Met: Aleksandra Kurzak & Roberto Alagna in Concert Episode 214th June 2021 Recorded in August, the married tenor and soprano duo perform arias and duets from the Château de la Chèvre d’Or perched on a cliff in the South of France. selections performed include the love duet from “Madama Butterfly,” the hilarious “Caro elisir” from “L’Elisir d’Amore,” and the Mexican favorite “Cielito Lindo.” 22 Andrea Bocelli: Believe Episode 225th June 2021 Enjoy the songs of the internationally beloved tenor’s 2020 album recorded on location in Malta. Selections performed include “Gratia Plena,” a duet with Cecilia Bartoli, and new interpretations of “Ave Maria” and Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” 23 Mick Fleetwood & Friends Episode 235th June 2021 Experience an all-star concert honoring the early years of Fleetwood Mac and founding member Peter Green at the London Palladium featuring artists including Pete Townshend, Steven Tyler, David Gilmour, Noel Gallagher, Christine McVie and more. 24 Great Performances at the Met: Anna Netrebko in Concert Episode 2418th June 2021 Recorded in February from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria, the megastar performs Russian songs by Rachmaninoff, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Tchaikovsky as well as selections by Debussy, Dvořák, Fauré and Strauss. Accompanied by Pavel Nebolsin on piano, the program also features mezzo-soprano Elena Maximova for duets from Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” and Tchaikovsky’s “The Queen of Spades.” 25 Great Performances at the Met: Joyce DiDonato in Concert Episode 252nd July 2021 Experience a new performance by the American mezzo-soprano from the art-nouveau Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum, Germany, featuring Baroque works by Handel as well as songs like “La vie en rose” and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” 26 Gloria Estefan: Sangre Yoruba Episode 269th July 2021 Gloria Estefan journeys through three of Brazil’s most influential cities, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Salvador, with Estefan as narrator and host, discussing the history of Samba and its many variations. Featuring regional celebrities like Maria Rita, Carlinhos Brown and Jorge Arãgo, the documentary looks at the African origins of Brazilian music and specific sites that have inspired artists. 27 Roots of Latin Jazz Episode 2716th July 2021 Anaadi and the Raíces Jazz Orchestra perform Jorge Ben's classic from his debut album "Samba Esquema Novo," called "Mas Que Nada." 28 Great Performances at the Met: Diana Damrau & Joseph Calleja in Concert Episode 286th August 2021 Don’t miss Diana Damrau and Joseph Calleja’s captivating performance from the spectacular Royal Palace of Caserta. 29 Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age Episode 2914th August 2021 Go backstage on Broadway from 1959 to the early 1980s through interviews with theater legends including Carol Burnett, Liza Minnelli, Dick Van Dyke and more touching on a variety of classic shows like “Bye, Bye Birdie,” “Pippin” and “A Chorus Line.” 30 Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2021 Episode 3027th August 2021 Enjoy the Vienna Philharmonic’s annual summer night concert under the direction of guest conductor Daniel Harding with piano virtuoso Igor Levit at Austria’s Schönbrunn Palace. 31 Great Performances at the Met: Sonya Yoncheva in Concert Episode 313rd September 2021 Enjoy the talent of Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva as she performs arias by Verdi, Puccini and more from the Baroque Library in Schussenried Cloister in southwest Germany accompanied by Julien Quentin on piano.