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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!

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...
Genres:ComedyDocumentaryDrama
Network:PBS

Best Episodes Summary

"Garrison Keillor’s Independence Day Special: A Prairie Home Companion at Tanglewood" is the best rated episode of "Great Performances". It scored 9.4/10 based on 19 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 7/2/2006. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Episode 2".

  • Garrison Keillor’s Independence Day Special: A Prairie Home Companion at Tanglewood
    9.4/1019 votes
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    #1 - Garrison Keillor’s Independence Day Special: A Prairie Home Companion at Tanglewood

    Season 34 Episode 15 - Aired 7/2/2006

    A concert version of the popular radio program.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 2
    9.2/1093 votes
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    #2 - Episode 2

    Season 15 Episode 2 - Aired 3/7/1986

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 10
    9.2/1030 votes
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    #3 - Episode 10

    Season 23 Episode 10 - Aired 9/22/1993

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 3
    9.2/1014 votes
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    #4 - Episode 3

    Season 34 Episode 3 - Aired 3/1/2003

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 12
    9.1/1072 votes
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    #5 - Episode 12

    Season 23 Episode 12 - Aired 10/20/1993

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 11
    9.1/1052 votes
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    #6 - Episode 11

    Season 26 Episode 11 - Aired 12/15/1995

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 6
    9.1/1018 votes
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    #7 - Episode 6

    Season 33 Episode 6 - Aired 11/30/2002

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • We Love Ella: A Tribute to the First Lady of Song
    9.1/1019 votes
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    #8 - We Love Ella: A Tribute to the First Lady of Song

    Season 35 Episode 22 - Aired 6/6/2007

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 2
    9.0/101 votes
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    #9 - Episode 2

    Season 18 Episode 2 - Aired 1/8/1989

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 4
    9.0/10110 votes
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    #10 - Episode 4

    Season 18 Episode 4 - Aired 4/8/1989

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 7
    9.0/1020 votes
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    #11 - Episode 7

    Season 26 Episode 7 - Aired 10/25/1995

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 7
    9.0/101 votes
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    #12 - Episode 7

    Season 29 Episode 7 - Aired 6/10/1998

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 5
    9.0/10100 votes
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    #13 - Episode 5

    Season 30 Episode 5 - Aired 6/6/1999

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 5
    9.0/1079 votes
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    #14 - Episode 5

    Season 33 Episode 5 - Aired 10/16/2002

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 8
    8.9/1025 votes
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    #15 - Episode 8

    Season 26 Episode 8 - Aired 11/8/1995

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden
    8.9/1043 votes
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    #16 - Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden

    Season 37 Episode 3 - Aired 3/5/2010

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 4
    8.8/1026 votes
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    #17 - Episode 4

    Season 10 Episode 4 - Aired 10/19/1981

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 2
    8.8/1023 votes
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    #18 - Episode 2

    Season 20 Episode 2 - Aired 2/1/1991

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 2
    8.8/1037 votes
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    #19 - Episode 2

    Season 30 Episode 2 - Aired 1/6/1999

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • From Shtetl to Swing
    8.8/1012 votes
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    #20 - From Shtetl to Swing

    Season 34 Episode 1 - Aired 10/5/2005

    A collective journey from synagogue choirs to Harlem hot spots, from Yiddish theater to musical extravaganza, from klezmer to ragtime, from symphonic jazz to swing. All the way from the Bowery to Tin Pan Alley to Broadway to Hollywood - FROM SHTETL TO SWING recounts the ebullient story of a musical metamorphosis born in darkest Russia.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Sondheim! The Birthday Concert
    8.8/1035 votes
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    #21 - Sondheim! The Birthday Concert

    Season 38 Episode 2 - Aired 11/24/2010

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Celebracion! Dudamel, Florez, and the L.A. Philharmonic
    8.8/1015 votes
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    #22 - Celebracion! Dudamel, Florez, and the L.A. Philharmonic

    Season 38 Episode 3 - Aired 12/29/2010

    The October 7 opening night concert of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Music Director Gustavo Dudamel featuring renowned Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Florez at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Actress Eva Mendes hosts the broadcast.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Great Performances at the Met: The Enchanted Island
    8.8/1090 votes
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    #23 - Great Performances at the Met: The Enchanted Island

    Season 39 Episode 17 - Aired 5/18/2012

    The Enchanted Island is a world premiere work that combines Baroque music with a new, English-language libretto featuring characters from Shakespeare, and a starry cast including Danielle de Niese, Joyce DiDonato, David Daniels, Plácido Domingo, and Luca Pisaroni.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Ann
    8.8/10117 votes
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    #24 - Ann

    Season 47 Episode 24 - Aired 6/19/2020

    Enjoy a powerful and revealing look at legendary, larger-than-life Texas governor Ann Richards who enriched the lives of her followers, friends and family in this critically acclaimed play written by and starring Emmy Award-winner Holland Taylor.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2022
    8.8/1013 votes
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    #25 - From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2022

    Season 49 Episode 15 - Aired 1/1/2022

    Ring in the new year in Austria at the Musikverein with the Vienna Philharmonic and host Hugh Bonneville in this annual concert of waltzes by Strauss and more under the baton of guest conductor Daniel Barenboim.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A