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The Best Episodes of Great Performances

Every episode of Great Performances ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Great Performances!

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The best in the performing arts from across America and around the world including a diverse programming portfolio of classical music, opera, popular song, musical theater, dance, drama, and performance documentaries.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Great Performances Season 43 Episode 4 - From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2016
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2016

    S43:E4

    Julie Andrews hosts the annual New Year’s Day celebration with the Vienna Philharmonic from Vienna’s Musikverein, a beloved annual tradition. Maestro Mariss Jansons will conduct the popular concert of melodies by the Strauss Family and their contemporaries. The the Vienna Boys’ Choir and soloists of the Vienna State Ballet also perform.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Great Performances Season 53 Episode 2 - Great Performances at the Met: Il Barbiere di Siviglia
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - Great Performances at the Met: Il Barbiere di Siviglia

    S53:E2

    Rossini’s effervescent comedy retakes the stage in Bartlett Sher’s madcap production. Aigul Akhmetshina headlines a winning ensemble as the feisty heroine, Rosina, alongside Jack Swanson, in his Met debut, as her secret beloved, Count Almaviva. Andrey Zhilikhovsky stars as Figaro, the infamous barber of Seville, with Peter Kálmán as Dr. Bartolo and Alexander Vinogradov as Don Basilio.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Great Performances Season 53 Episode 3 - Tiler Peck: Suspending Time
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #3 - Tiler Peck: Suspending Time

    S53:E3

    Follow acclaimed ballerina Tiler Peck as she overcomes injury to reclaim her place on stage and debut her own choreography with New York City Ballet, revealing the resilience and artistry behind a modern-day prima ballerina.

    Director:Alex Ramsey
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Great Performances Season 23 Episode 10 - Episode 10
    9.4/10(31 votes)

    #4 - Episode 10

    S23:E10

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Great Performances Season 35 Episode 22 - We Love Ella: A Tribute to the First Lady of Song
    9.4/10(19 votes)

    #5 - We Love Ella: A Tribute to the First Lady of Song

    S35:E22

    April 25, 2007, would have been Ella Fitzgerald's 90th birthday. To celebrate, Great Performances has created an all-star tribute to the great jazz singer.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Great Performances Season 15 Episode 2 - Episode 2
    9.3/10(92 votes)

    #6 - Episode 2

    S15:E2

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Great Performances

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  7. Great Performances Season 26 Episode 7 - Episode 7
    9.3/10(20 votes)

    #7 - Episode 7

    S26:E7

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Great Performances Season 26 Episode 11 - Episode 11
    9.3/10(52 votes)

    #8 - Episode 11

    S26:E11

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Great Performances Season 34 Episode 15 - Garrison Keillor’s Independence Day Special: A Prairie Home Companion at Tanglewood
    9.3/10(19 votes)

    #9 - Garrison Keillor’s Independence Day Special: A Prairie Home Companion at Tanglewood

    S34:E15

    A concert version of the popular radio program.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Great Performances Season 23 Episode 12 - Episode 12
    9.1/10(71 votes)

    #10 - Episode 12

    S23:E12

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Great Performances Season 33 Episode 5 - Episode 5
    9.1/10(79 votes)

    #11 - Episode 5

    S33:E5

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Great Performances Season 33 Episode 6 - Episode 6
    9.1/10(17 votes)

    #12 - Episode 6

    S33:E6

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Great Performances Season 18 Episode 2 - Episode 2
    9.0/10(2 votes)

    #13 - Episode 2

    S18:E2

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Great Performances Season 18 Episode 4 - Episode 4
    9.0/10(112 votes)

    #14 - Episode 4

    S18:E4

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Great Performances Season 29 Episode 7 - Episode 7
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Episode 7

    S29:E7

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Great Performances Season 30 Episode 5 - Episode 5
    9.0/10(100 votes)

    #16 - Episode 5

    S30:E5

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Great Performances Season 37 Episode 3 - Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden
    9.0/10(42 votes)

    #17 - Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden

    S37:E3

    Multi-Grammy-winning phenomenon Michael Bublé returns to public television in Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden, a musical concert that captures the star in a trademark, high-octane performance. Recorded at New York City’s famed arena, this program’s highlights include a show-stopping collection of Bublé’s hits not included on the DVD release.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Great Performances Season 38 Episode 2 - Sondheim! The Birthday Concert
    9.0/10(33 votes)

    #18 - Sondheim! The Birthday Concert

    S38:E2

    Performed on Sondheim's 80th birthday in March 2010, Great Performances presents the New York Philharmonic's salute to a true Broadway legend on November 24. Hosted by David Hyde Pierce, gathering to celebrate are acclaimed Sondheim alumni as Laura Benanti, Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, Joanna Gleason, Nathan Gunn, Patti LuPone, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Bernadette Peters, and many more.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Great Performances Season 41 Episode 5 - Great Performances 40th Anniversary Celebration
    9.0/10(12 votes)

    #19 - Great Performances 40th Anniversary Celebration

    S41:E5

    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, Elīna Garanča, and Michael Bublé.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Great Performances Season 49 Episode 33 - Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2022
    9.0/10(9 votes)

    #20 - Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2022

    S49:E33

    Enjoy the Vienna Philharmonic’s annual summer night concert with cellist Gautier Capuçon under the direction of guest conductor Andris Nelsons at Austria’s Schönbrunn Palace.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Great Performances Season 52 Episode 15 - Next to Normal
    9.0/10(237 votes)

    #21 - Next to Normal

    S52:E15

    Experience this Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical directed by Michael Longhurst from London's Donmar Warehouse. Grammy nominee Caissie Levy stars in the story of a suburban family struggling with the effects of mental illness.

    Director:Michael Longhurst
    Writer:Brian Yorkey

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  22. Great Performances Season 10 Episode 4 - Episode 4
    8.9/10(26 votes)

    #22 - Episode 4

    S10:E4

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Great Performances Season 20 Episode 2 - Episode 2
    8.9/10(23 votes)

    #23 - Episode 2

    S20:E2

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Great Performances Season 26 Episode 8 - Episode 8
    8.9/10(25 votes)

    #24 - Episode 8

    S26:E8

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Great Performances Season 35 Episode 11 - Episode 11
    8.9/10(16 votes)

    #25 - Episode 11

    S35:E11

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2016" is the best rated episode of "Great Performances". It scored 10/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/1/2016. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Great Performances at the Met: Il Barbiere di Siviglia".