Great Performances

''Great Performances'' is a television anthology series dedicated to the performing arts; the banner has been used to televise theatrical performances such as plays, musicals, opera, ballet, concerts, as well as occasional documentaries. It is produced by the PBS member station WNET in New York City (originally in conjunction with KQED/San Francisco, WTTW/Chicago, Maryland Public Television, South Carolina ETV and KERA-TV/ Dallas/Fort Worth).

The series is the longest-running performing arts anthology on television and has won 29 Primetime Emmy Awards, three Peabody Awards and an Image Award, with nods from the Directors Guild of America and the Cinema Audio Society.

History

''Great Performances predecessor, ''New York Playhouse'', premiered on October 7, 1972, with a production of ''Antigone''. In 1973, Exxon and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting provided grants to create ''Theater in America'', which reran the ''New York Playhouse'' and some ''NET Playhouse'' productions. The first original production for ''Theater in America'' was of ''Enemies''. In 1974, WNET added ''The Great Performance'', a series of classical concerts.

In 1976, ''Great Performances'' became the umbrella title and the music section was named ''Music in America''. A third section, ''Dance In America'', was also added. The first episode "Sue's Leg: Remembering the Thirties" featured choreography by Twyla Tharp. Later episodes featured such performers as Mikhail Baryshnikov. Although it is not seen as often as previously, there have recently been new '' Dance in America'' programs, such as the Emmy-winning 2005 production of Tchaikovsky's ''Swan Lake'', starring Angel Corella, Gillian Murphy and the American Ballet Theatre.

In 2007, ''Great Performances'' began telecasting performances from the ''Metropolitan Opera Live in HD'' series, a series of HD opera tapings re-purposed from their original purpose as Fathom Events films carried in high-quality movie theaters for a premium admission price.

Repeat guest hosts include Walter Cronkite, Julie Andrews, Whoopi Goldberg and Hugh Bonneville. Major underwriters throughout the show's run have included The National Endowment for the Arts, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS viewers, Exxon, Martin Marietta, Texaco, Deluxe, Duracell, Ernst & Young, Chase Manhattan Bank and UBS.

In 2009, new theme music for ''Great Performances'' was introduced, composed by John Williams.

On October 18, 2013, Great Performances celebrated its 40th anniversary with the release of an episode entitled "Great Performances 40th Anniversary Celebration". The episode was originally tapped at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in November 2012. The episode was dedicated to the memory of Phil Ramone who died from complications due to surgery in March 2013.

Episodes

Critical reception

''Great Performances'' has received generally positive reviews from television critics and parents of young children. Roger Catlin of ''Hartford Courant'' wrote, "The classiest thing on TV." Ryan Berenz of ''Channel Guide Magazine'' wrote, "Annie Lennox brings the house down." Linda Winer of ''Newsday'' wrote for the episode, Billy Elliot, "As good as it gets." Marissa Martinelli of ''Slate'' wrote for the episode, An American in Paris, "Spectacular."

References

External links

*
*
*

{{PBSTV

1972 American television series debuts
1980s American television series
1990s American television series
2000s American television series
2010s American anthology television series
English-language television shows
PBS original programming
Peabody Award-winning television programs
Primetime Emmy Award-winning television series
Television series by WNET
Texaco