Episode 1
San Francisco Opera: Mefistofele by Arrigo Boito
9.0 / 10
Episode credits
Guest stars Samuel Ramey, Gabriela Beňačková
TV series
Great Performances
1971TV-1453 seasons6.1 / 10
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.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Where to watch in United States
Checked Sep 1, 2026
Great Performances is available to stream on DirecTV On Demand and YouTube TV in United States. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Synopsis
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.
Season 18 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch Great Performances
Episode 2
Episode 2
9.3 / 10
Episode credits
Guest stars Hinton Battle, Ira Bernstein, Bunny Briggs, Gregory Hines
Episode 5
Episode 5
Episode credits
Guest stars Elisabeth Söderström, Frederica von Stade, Katherine Ciesinski
Episode 6
Episode 6
10.0 / 10
Episode credits
Guest stars Eddie Bracken, Richard White
Episode 7
Episode 7
Episode credits
Guest stars Spalding Gray, James Rebhorn, Frances Conroy, Roberta Maxwell, Penelope Ann Miller, Peter Maloney
Episode 8
An Evening with Alan Jay Lerner
Musical celebration of the songs of lyricist Alan Jay Lerner.
Episode credits
Guest stars John Cullum, June Anderson, Peter Bayliss, Leonard Bernstein, Georgia Brown, Len Cariou, Sally Ann Howes, Richard Kiley
Episode information updated Sep 3, 2026
More about Great Performances
Cast
Bray PoorNarrator (voice)
Rue McClanahanFaye PreciousJoyce EbertMrs. Holroyd
Frederick CoffinSecond Guard
Geraldine FitzgeraldMrs.Atkins
Frank LangellaKonstantin Treplev
Charles KimbroughDr.Spiga
Stephen SondheimSelfProduction details
- Status
- Returning Series
- Series type
- Scripted
- Episodes
- 717
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
PBSUnited States
ThirteenUnited States
Themes
anthologybased on novel or bookbased on play or musicalfilmed theaterliterary adaptation
