GREAT PERFORMANCES continues its tradition of showcasing the world’s preeminent orchestras with the Berlin Philharmonic opening concert for Greece’s Hellenic Festival, the five-month cultural celebration featuring music, theater, and dance in honor of the 2004 summer Olympic Games in Athens. From the spectacular Herodes Atticus amphitheater, against a backdrop of ancient Athens, conductor Sir Simon [...]

In celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 250th birthday in 2006, the internationally renowned Salzburg Festival presented all 22 of the composer’s operas and other major compositions throughout the course of its summer schedule. Joining the festivities, GREAT PERFORMANCES travels to Salzburg in all its picturesque splendor for a gala concert with the Vienna Philharmonic from [...]

The Beaux Arts Trio and Menahem Pressler represent a rare combination of longevity, consistency and quality. In honor of the group’s 50th anniversary in 2005, producer Susanne Schwibs interviews each member of the trio individually and as a group. Their comments are woven in with the music of their anniversary concert and provide enlightening insight [...]

In 1987, singer Aretha Franklin became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This was a testament to her impact on the music world over the course of her long and exciting career. From her teenage days singing gospel in her father’s church to her ascendancy to rock [...]

Charles Strouse’s music has attracted top recording artists from the last half century with covers of his songs recorded by such diverse pop artists as Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, Harry Connick Jr., Bobby Rydell, Jay Z, Vic Damone, Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, Grace Jones and Duke Ellington and his Orchestra. Strouse [...]

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO), comprising 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today, has been the Jazz at Lincoln Center resident orchestra for over 12 years. Featured in all aspects of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s programming, this remarkably versatile orchestra performs and leads educational events in New York, across the [...]

Nicola Benedetti started playing the violin at four. It would have been easier if her parents were musical, but they’re not, but that’s OK since Nicola is musical, very musical. Born in Scotland of Italian heritage, Nicola was accepted in the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin School. Named BBC’s Young Musician of the Year in 2004, Benedetti [...]

In this clip from the Oscar® award winning animated short, Peter and the duck enjoy a frozen pond while the cat stalks the bird.