Great Performances

Great Performances. It is a long-running performing arts anthology series presented on the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States. Conceived by pioneering producer Jac Venza, the program has served as a premier television showcase for a vast array of artistic disciplines since its premiere in 1972. The series is renowned for bringing Broadway theatre, classical music, opera, dance, and documentary profiles into American homes, featuring collaborations with institutions like Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera.

Overview

The series was established under the umbrella of WNET, the flagship PBS station in New York City, with significant early funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and corporate underwriters like ExxonMobil. Its mission has consistently been to make high-caliber performing arts accessible to a national television audience, often presenting works that would otherwise require attendance at venues such as Carnegie Hall or the Royal Shakespeare Company. Over decades, it has evolved from a primarily classical music focus to encompass a wider spectrum, including contemporary dance, musical theatre, and international performances, while maintaining a reputation for high production values.

Production and broadcast history

The series premiered on November 4, 1972, with a production of *The Prodigal Son* performed by the New York City Ballet. Under the long-term stewardship of executive producer Jac Venza, and later producers like David Horn, the series became a cornerstone of PBS's arts programming. Early notable broadcasts included the complete BBC production of *The Six Wives of Henry VIII* and the landmark miniseries The Adams Chronicles. A significant partnership was formed with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, leading to regular broadcasts of events like Live from Lincoln Center. The series continues to be produced by WNET, with episodes also distributed internationally and through digital platforms.

Programming and notable episodes

The programming is exceptionally diverse, having presented thousands of performances. In theatre, it has broadcast definitive productions like *Cats*, *Sweeney Todd* with Angela Lansbury, and more recent hits such as *Hamilton* and the National Theatre’s The Lehman Trilogy. The music and opera repertoire is vast, featuring legends like Luciano Pavarotti in La bohème, Vladimir Horowitz in The Last Romantic, and complete cycles of operas by Richard Wagner. Dance highlights include performances by the American Ballet Theatre, the Martha Graham Dance Company, and the Bolshoi Ballet. The series also airs biographical documentaries on artists like Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Cultural impact and reception

The series is widely credited with democratizing access to the performing arts, particularly for audiences in regions without major cultural institutions. It has been praised by critics from publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post for its curation and preservation of cultural milestones. By televising productions like *The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby* and the Copenhagen interpretations of Shakespearean plays, it influenced theatrical production and reach. Its broadcasts of *The Phantom of the Opera* and *Les Misérables* introduced musical theatre to millions, solidifying its role as an essential educational and cultural resource.

Awards and nominations

The series has received extensive critical acclaim, winning numerous prestigious awards. It has earned over 70 Primetime Emmy Awards, including awards for Outstanding Classical Music Program and Outstanding Variety Special. It has also been honored with multiple Peabody Awards for its service to broadcasting and the arts. Individual productions within the series have garnered their own accolades; for example, its broadcast of *South Pacific* won an Emmy, and documentaries on figures like Judy Garland and Fred Astaire have received recognition from organizations such as the Writers Guild of America. Its consistent quality has made it one of the most awarded series in the history of PBS.

Category:American television series Category:PBS network shows Category:Performing arts television series