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The Best Episodes of Great Performances

PBS

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

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...

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  1. Background image for Garrison Keillor’s Independence Day Special: A Prairie Home Companion at Tanglewood
    9.3/10(20 votes)

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

    S34:E15

    A concert version of the popular radio program.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  2. Background image for Episode 2
    9.2/10(93 votes)

    #2 - Episode 2

    S15:E2

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  3. Background image for Episode 10
    9.2/10(30 votes)

    #3 - Episode 10

    S23:E10

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  4. Background image for Episode 3
    9.2/10(14 votes)

    #4 - Episode 3

    S34:E3

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for Episode 12
    9.1/10(72 votes)

    #5 - Episode 12

    S23:E12

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  6. Background image for Episode 11
    9.1/10(53 votes)

    #6 - Episode 11

    S26:E11

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Great Performances

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  7. Background image for Episode 6
    9.1/10(18 votes)

    #7 - Episode 6

    S33:E6

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  8. Background image for We Love Ella: A Tribute to the First Lady of Song
    9.1/10(19 votes)

    #8 - 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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  9. Background image for Next to Normal
    9.1/10(55 votes)

    #9 - 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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  10. Background image for Episode 2
    9.0/10(2 votes)

    #10 - Episode 2

    S18:E2

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  11. Background image for Episode 4
    9.0/10(113 votes)

    #11 - Episode 4

    S18:E4

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for Episode 7
    9.0/10(20 votes)

    #12 - Episode 7

    S26:E7

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  13. Background image for Episode 7
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Episode 7

    S29:E7

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  14. Background image for Episode 5
    9.0/10(100 votes)

    #14 - Episode 5

    S30:E5

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for Episode 5
    9.0/10(79 votes)

    #15 - Episode 5

    S33:E5

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  16. Background image for Episode 8
    8.9/10(26 votes)

    #16 - Episode 8

    S26:E8

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden
    8.9/10(43 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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for Sondheim! The Birthday Concert
    8.9/10(34 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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  19. Background image for Episode 4
    8.8/10(26 votes)

    #19 - Episode 4

    S10:E4

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  20. Background image for Episode 2
    8.8/10(24 votes)

    #20 - Episode 2

    S20:E2

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  21. Background image for Episode 2
    8.8/10(37 votes)

    #21 - Episode 2

    S30:E2

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  22. Background image for From Shtetl to Swing
    8.8/10(12 votes)

    #22 - From Shtetl to Swing

    S34:E1

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  23. Background image for Celebracion! Dudamel, Florez, and the L.A. Philharmonic
    8.8/10(15 votes)

    #23 - Celebracion! Dudamel, Florez, and the L.A. Philharmonic

    S38:E3

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  24. Background image for Great Performances at the Met: The Enchanted Island
    8.8/10(90 votes)

    #24 - Great Performances at the Met: The Enchanted Island

    S39:E17

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  25. Background image for Ann
    8.8/10(119 votes)

    #25 - Ann

    S47:E24

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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 9.3/10 based on 20 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 7/2/2006. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Episode 2".