Pavarotti: A Life in Seven Arias

S36 E01 • Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008 • Sep 10

From soccer-playing son of a Modena, Italy, baker to onstage partner of "La Stupenda," world-renowned soprano Joan Sutherland, from media darling to truly one-of-a-kind superstar, it is a story writ as large as the great one himself.

Hitman: David Foster & Friends

S36 E02 • Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 • Nov 29

Hitman: David Foster & Friends features Foster himself presiding center stage at the keyboard. The evening is a virtual jukebox worth of songs written by and/or produced by him. Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and brother Kevon offer “I Swear;” Brian McKnight revisits Earth, Wind and Fire’s “After the Love Has Gone;” former Chicago front man Peter Cetera gets down with “Hard to Say I’m Sorry,”

Domingo, Netrebko & Villazón: Three Stars in Vienna

S36 E03 • Friday, Dec 5, 2008 • Dec 5

From its opening vocal salvo, Domingo’s thrilling account of Lehar’s “Gern hab ich die Frau’n gekuesst” from Paganini, through Netrebko’s swirling Gypsy rendition of “Heia in den Bergen” (from Emmerich Kálmán’s Die Csárdásfürstin) to Villazón’s heart-breaking “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” (Lehar’s Land of Smiles), the program is a welcome reminder of the glittering lost world of operetta.

Cyrano de Bergerac

S36 E04 • Wednesday, Jan 7, 2009 • Jan 7

David Leveaux’s stylish production, with sumptuous costumes and sets by Gregory Gale and Tom Pye respectively, remains true to Rostand’s 1897 heartbreaker of a play, bursting with swashbuckling gascons and duplicitous noblemen, fops and ruffians. Its tale of the eponymous philosopher-swordsman (Kline), who pines for his beautiful cousin Roxane (Garner), yet is too ashamed of his large nose.

King Lear

S36 E05 • Wednesday, Mar 25, 2009 • Mar 25

2009 Emmy Nominee Ian McKellen recreates his recent stage performance of Shakespeare's tragic monarch in a special television adaptation. Directed by Trevor Nunn, the telecast includes nearly all the original cast members of the sold-out Royal Shakespeare Company production that premiered in Stratford-Upon-Avon in April 2007.

Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood: Live From Madison Square Garden

S36 E06 • Thursday, May 28, 2009 • May 28

Long-time friends and former band mates Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood team up for a once-in-a-lifetime reunion concert in Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood: Live From Madison Square Garden. The special telecast captures Clapton and Winwood at New York’s Madison Square Garden performing songs from their short-lived Blind Faith collaboration.

Stevie Wonder: Live at Last

S36 E07 • Monday, Jun 1, 2009 • Jun 1

Wonder rocketed to stardom at age 12 when he was signed to Motown Records as “Little Stevie Wonder”. Over nearly four decades, Wonder has reinvigorated the music scene with his unique sound, produced nine number one records and won a total of 22 Grammy Awards – and there is no end in sight for the successful superstar.

Chess in Concert

S36 E08 • Wednesday, Jun 17, 2009 • Jun 17

Wicked’s Idina Menzel and Rent’s Adam Pascal join Great Performances favorite, internationally renowned vocalist Josh Groban in a spectacular London concert revival of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ 1986 cult musical Chess. Featuring diamond-sharp lyrics by Tim Rice (Evita, The Lion King), and the hit-filled production (“One Night in Bangkok,” “I Know Him So Well,” “The Anthem”).

Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday Celebration: Live from Madison Square Garden

S36 E09 • Thursday, Jul 30, 2009 • Jul 30

With a career spanning more than half a century, renowned folk artist, political activist, and avid environmentalist, Pete Seeger, turned 90 in May of 2009. In honor of the milestone birthday, a multi-generational roster of artists, whose music has been shaped by Seeger’s vision, gathered at Madison Square Garden on May 3 to celebrate his lifetime achievement.

Episode 10

S36 E10 • Sunday, Nov 27, 2005 • Nov 27

Episode 11

S36 E11 • Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005 • Nov 30

Episode 12

S36 E12 • Wednesday, Dec 21, 2005 • Dec 21