Great Performances at the Met backdrop
Great Performances at the Met poster

The Best Episodes of Great Performances at the Met

Documentary

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

The Best Episodes of Great Performances at the Met

The Metropolitan Opera's series of live performance transmissions to movie theaters around the world.
  1. Background image for The Magic Flute
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #1 - The Magic Flute

    S1:E1

    Mozart's "The Magic Flute," with Matthew Polenzani (Tamino); Nathan Gunn (Papageno); Erika Miklósa (Queen of the Night); René Pape (Sarastro); Ying Huang (Pamina); Greg Fedderly (Monostatos); and Jennifer Aylmer (Papagena). James Levine conducts.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  2. Background image for I Puritani
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #2 - I Puritani

    S1:E2

    Anna Netrebko stars in Bellini's bel canto opera "I Puritani" as a bride-to-be whose wedding day is disrupted when her betrothed (Eric Cutler) helps the condemned Queen Enrichetta (Maria Zifchak) escape from the Roundheads (Oliver Cromwell supporters during the English Civil War of the 1640s). Sir Riccardo Forth: Franco Vassallo. Sir Giorgio Walton: John Relyea. Lord Walton: Valerian Ruminski. Sir Bruno Robertson: Eduardo Valdes.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  3. Background image for The First Emperor
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #3 - The First Emperor

    S1:E3

    Placido Domingo stars in “The First Emperor” as Chinese ruler Qin Shi Huang, who attempts to unify his kingdom with a national anthem penned by a childhood-friend-turned-composer (Paul Groves). Complications arise, however, when Qin's daughter Yueyang (Elizabeth Futral) seduces the songsmith. Composed by Tan Dun, who won an Oscar for his “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” score and cowrote the libretto with novelist Ha Jin. Shaman: Michelle DeYoung. Yueyang's Mother: Susanne Mentzer.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  4. Background image for Eugene Onegin
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #4 - Eugene Onegin

    S1:E4

    Tchaikovsky's “Eugene Onegin,” starring Renée Fleming as Tatiana, a young Russian who's rebuffed by the object of her affection, Eugene Onegin (Dmitri Hvorostovsky). Years later, after she has married a prince (Sergei Aleksashkin), the two meet again and Onegin realizes his error. Olga: Elena Zaremba. Larina: Svetlana Volkova. Lenski: Ramón Vargas.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  5. Background image for The Barber of Seville
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #5 - The Barber of Seville

    S1:E5

    Gioacchino Rossini's classic comic opera “The Barber of Seville” stars Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez as Count Almaviva, whose pursuit of the lovely Rosina (Joyce DiDonato) is aided by the wily barber Figaro (Peter Mattei). Standing in his way is her guardian Dr. Bartolo (John Del Carlo), who plans to marry her himself. Don Basilio: John Relyea. Fiorello: Brian Davis. Ambrogio: Rob Besserer.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  6. Background image for Il trittico
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #6 - Il trittico

    S1:E6

    “Il Trittico,” Puccini's collection of three one-act operas. “Il Tabarro” concerns doomed lovers (Maria Guleghina, Salvatore Licitra); “Suor Angelica,” is about the salvation of a nun (Barbara Frittoli); “Gianni Schicchi” is a charismatic scoundrel (Alessandro Corbelli) out to steal a fortune willed to the church.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Great Performances at the Met

    READ
  8. Background image for Hansel and Gretel
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #7 - Hansel and Gretel

    S2:E1

    The second-season opener features the Engelbert Humperdinck opera "Hansel and Gretel," about two children (Alice Coote, Christine Schäfer) who meet a witch (Philip Langridge) in the woods.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  9. Background image for Roméo et Juliette
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #8 - Roméo et Juliette

    S2:E2

    A production of "Roméo et Juliette," starring Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna as the star-crossed lovers. Placido Domingo conducts the orchestra and chorus for the opera. Tybalt: Marc Heller. Paris: Louis Otey. Capulet: Charles Taylor. Gertrude: Jane Bunnell. Grégorio: David Won. Benvolio: Tony Stevenson. Duke of Verona: Dean Peterson.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  10. Background image for Macbeth
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Macbeth

    S2:E3

    Adrian Noble's version of Verdi's "Macbeth" sets the opera in a decimated post-WWII landscape and stars baritone Željko Lucic as Lord Macbeth and soprano Maria Guleghina as Lady Macbeth. James Levine conducts. Macduff: Dimitri Pittas. Banquo: John Relyea.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  11. Background image for Manon Lescaut
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Manon Lescaut

    S2:E4

    Puccini's "Manon Lescaut," about a country girl (Karita Mattila) who's torn between an impoverished student (Marcello Giordani) who loves her and a rich man (Dale Travis) who wants her to be his mistress. Lescaut: Dwayne Croft.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  12. Background image for Peter Grimes
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Peter Grimes

    S2:E5

    Anthony Dean Griffey stars in the title role of Benjamin Britten's "Peter Grimes," about an English fisherman blamed for the deaths of two assistants. Ellen Orford: Patricia Racette. Capt. Balstrode: Anthony Michaels-Moore. Mrs. Sedley: Felicity Palmer.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  13. Background image for Tristan und Isolde
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #12 - Tristan und Isolde

    S2:E6

    A production of Richard Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde," about the doomed love between a Celtic princess (Deborah Voigt) and a knight (Robert Dean Smith), who's the nephew of King Marke (Matti Salminen), to whom she's betrothed. Brangäne: Michelle DeYoung. Melot: Stephen Gaertner. Kurwenal: Eike Wilm Schulte.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  14. Background image for La Bohème
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #13 - La Bohème

    S2:E7

    A production of Puccini's "La Bohème," about a doomed love affair between poet Rodolfo (Ramón Vargas) and seamstress Mimi (Angela Gheorghiu) in 1830s Paris. Marcello: Ludovic Tézier. Musetta: Ainhoa Arteta. Schaunard: Quinn Kelsey.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  15. Background image for La Fille du Régiment
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #14 - La Fille du Régiment

    S2:E8

    Coloratura soprano Natalie Dessay stars as Marie, an orphan adopted by French troops in this production of Donizetti's comedic "Fille du Régiment," which updates the setting from the Napoleonic era to World War I. Tenor Juan Diego Flórez costars as Tonio, the soldier she's promised to wed. Marquise of Berkenfield: Felicity Palmer. Sgt. Sulpice: Alessandro Corbelli. Duchess of Krakenthorp: Marian Seldes.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  16. Background image for Doctor Atomic
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #15 - Doctor Atomic

    S3:E1

    The Season 3 premiere features a production of the John Adams opera "Doctor Atomic," about physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Gerald Finley) and the testing of the first atomic bomb in 1945 New Mexico. Kitty Oppenheimer: Sasha Cooke. Edward Teller: Richard Paul Fink. Gen. Leslie Groves: Eric Owens.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  17. Background image for Salome
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Salome

    S3:E2

    A production of the Richard Strauss opera "Salome," about a wild-child princess (Karita Mattila) who performs the Dance of the Seven Veils for King Herod (Kim Bagley) in return for anything she wants---which happens to be the head of a prophet (Juha Uusitalo). Herodias: Ildikó Komlósi.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  18. Background image for John Adams' Doctor Atomic
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #17 - John Adams' Doctor Atomic

    S3:E3

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  19. Background image for The Metropolitan Opera Opening Night Gala Starring Renée Fleming
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #18 - The Metropolitan Opera Opening Night Gala Starring Renée Fleming

    S3:E4

    The Met's 125th opening-night gala features soprano Renée Fleming in excerpts from three of her favorite operas, Verdi's "La Traviata," Massenet's "Manon" and Strauss' "Capriccio." Joining her are tenor Ramon Vargas, baritones Thomas Hampson and Dwayne Croft, and bass Robert Lloyd; and she wears costumes designed by John Galliano, Christian Lacroix and Karl Lagerfeld.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  20. Background image for Thaïs
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Thaïs

    S3:E5

    Soprano Renée Fleming stars in the title role of Jules Massenet's "Thaïs," about an Egyptian courtesan who causes the fall from grace of a monk (Thomas Hampson). Nicias: Michael Schade. Palémon: Alain Vernhes. La Charmeuse: Leah Partridge.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  21. Background image for Lucia di Lammermoor
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #20 - Lucia di Lammermoor

    S3:E6

    A production of Gaetano Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor," a tragic opera about a young woman (Anna Netrebko) whose brother (Mariusz Kwiecien) pressures her to marry a nobleman despite her love for another (Piotr Beczala).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  22. Background image for La Rondine
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #21 - La Rondine

    S3:E7

    Soprano Angela Gheorghiu and tenor Roberto Alagna star in a production of Puccini's "La Rodine," about a kept woman who faces a difficult decision when she falls for the son of a respectable family.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  23. Background image for Orfeo et Euridice
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Orfeo et Euridice

    S3:E8

    A production of Christoph Willibald Gluck's "Orfeo et Euridice," in which the grieving Orfeo (Stephanie Blythe) braves the underworld to retrieve his beloved wife (Danielle de Niese).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  24. Background image for Madama Butterfly
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Madama Butterfly

    S3:E9

    Puccini's classic "Madama Butterfly," about a Japanese geisha (Patricia Racette) who marries an American naval officer (Marcello Giordani).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  25. Background image for La Sonnambula
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #24 - La Sonnambula

    S3:E10

    A reimagining of the Bellini opera "La Sonnambula," about a young woman (Natalie Dessay) whose sleepwalking compromises her virtue and causes her beloved (Juan Diego Flórez) to cancel their wedding, adds a play-within-a-play format.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

  26. Background image for La Cenerentola
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #25 - La Cenerentola

    S3:E11

    A production of "La Cenerentola," Rossini's adaptation of the "Cinderella" fable, starring mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca in the lead role and tenor Lawrence Brownlee as her Prince Charming. Don Magnifico: Alessandro Corbelli. Alidoro: John Relyea.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
    0 Comments

    Be first to comment!

    Start
    !

    Be the first to comment!

Best Episodes Summary

"The Magic Flute" is the best rated episode of "Great Performances at the Met". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/24/2007. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "I Puritani".