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Over the course of three decades and some 600 programs, one of the ongoing highlights of GREAT PERFORMANCES has been its diversity of songs, from Broadway, popular music, jazz, rock, and American folk music. This unequaled treasure trove of music now has its very own showcase in GREAT PERFORMANCES 30TH ANNIVERSARY: A CELEBRATION IN SONG, hosted by Nathan Lane. Featured are many of the series' landmark moments: Elaine Paige's definitive "Memory" from "Cats"; Colm Wilkinson leading the rousing finale of "Les Misérables"; Natalie Cole in an "Unforgettable" duet; Itzhak Perlman IN THE FIDDLER'S HOUSE; Liza Minnelli singing Sondheim; Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman; Yo-Yo Ma; Bobby McFerrin; Paul Simon; Andrea Bocelli and many more in a star-studded evening of music.
Nathan Lane is the witty host of this celebration and introduces some of the great performers -- Julie Andrews, Kathleen Battle, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Itzhak Perlman, Mikhail Baryshnikov -- and songs -- "Memory," "The Music of the Night," "Sancta Maria," "Unforgettable" -- that have been a hallmark of the series for the last three decades. Get a year-by-year glimpse at just a few of the award-winning shows that have made GREAT PERFORMANCES must-see programming for arts lovers throughout the country in the Multimedia Presentation. See if any of your favorite songs are featured in the evening's program through our song list and watch excerpts from several numbers in A Celebration in Song: Musical Highlights. Finally, join us in marking this special milestone by adding your comments to the 30th Anniversary Celebration page.
Special funding for this program was provided by the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, Thea Petschek Iervolino, Dorothy and Lewis Cullman, Vivian Milstein, the Judy Weston Arts Fund, and the Irene Diamond Fund.
Although GREAT PERFORMANCES 30TH ANNIVERSARY: A CELEBRATION IN SONG is not available on VHS or DVD, information about how to purchase a number of the programs broadcast over the last 30 years can be found at our online SHOP.
Top banner photos: Nathan Lane hosts the GREAT PERFORMANCES 30TH ANNIVERSARY special (photo by Joe Sinnott); Jessye Norman from KATHLEEN BATTLE AND JESSYE NORMAN SING SPIRITUALS (1990); Liza Minnelli in SONDHEIM: A CELEBRATION AT CARNEGIE HALL (1993). |
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Bobby McFerrin hosted and performed in the 1996 program BOBBY MCFERRIN: LOOSELY MOZART. |
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Songstress Julie Andrews debuted on the series in 1990 with JULIE ANDREWS IN CONCERT. |
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