Live from Lincoln Center

Last updated
Live from Lincoln Center
Final Bows.jpg
Cast of "One Singular Sensation" taking their final bows
GenrePerforming arts television
Created byJohn Goberman [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Directed by Habib Azar; Kirk Browning; Dana Calderwood; Alex Coletti; Matthew Diamond; Brad Fuss; Annette Jolles; Lonny Price; Alan Skog; Glenn Weiss; Andrew Carl Wilk
Presented by Audra McDonald (2013–present)
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons43
No. of episodes251
Production
Executive producerAndrew Carl Wilk
Production locations Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and elsewhere
Production companyLincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Original release
ReleaseJanuary 30, 1976 (1976-01-30) 
2019 (2019)

Live from Lincoln Center was a seventeen-time Emmy Award-winning series that broadcast notable performances from the Lincoln Center in New York City on PBS starting 1976. The program aired between six and nine times per season. Episodes of Live from Lincoln Center featured Lincoln Center's resident artistic organizations, most notably the New York Philharmonic. Funding for the series was made possible by major grants from the Robert Wood Johnson 1962 Charitable Trust, Thomas H. Lee and Ann Tenenbaum, the Robert and Renee Belfer Family Foundation, the MetLife Foundation, Mercedes T. Bass, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Production of new episodes has been suspended indefinitely since 2019.

Contents

History

Live from Lincoln Center premiered on PBS on January 30, 1976, as part of the Great Performances family of performing arts programs. Since its premiere, the series has presented performances by the world's greatest performing artists. Some of its most notable regular performers include Audra McDonald (the program's official host), Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Leonard Bernstein, Itzhak Perlman, George Balanchine, Isaac Stern, Nathan Lane, James Galway, Billy Porter, Zubin Mehta, James Naughton, Kurt Masur, Kristin Chenoweth, Jason Isbell, Beverly Sills, Yo-Yo Ma, Renée Fleming, Emma Thompson, Joan Sutherland, Josh Groban, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Patina Miller, the New York City Ballet, the Mark Morris Dance Group, the American Ballet Theatre, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the New York Philharmonic, and the New York City Opera.

Martin Bookspan served as the program announcer from the premiere of Live from Lincoln Center until his retirement in 2006, at which point Fred Child took over. On-camera hosts throughout the broadcast's history have included Dick Cavett, Hugh Downs, Sam Waterston, Garrick Utley, Patrick Watson, and Beverly Sills. Most recently, the host position has been filled by Alan Alda, Alec Baldwin, Lesley Stahl, and currently, Audra McDonald.

The show was originally developed in the mid-1970s by John Goberman, who served as executive producer from 1976 until 2011. [8] In 2012, current Executive Producer Andrew Carl Wilk took over. Through 2012, the show was, in fact, live (or delayed slightly to accommodate PBS scheduling).

Through Goberman and Wilk's leadership, Live from Lincoln Center has gone on to win 17 Emmy Awards, 2 George Foster Peabody Awards, and several other accolades over its time on PBS. [9] [10] [11] The current team of directors for the program is made up of Habib Azar, Dana Calderwood, Alex Coletti, Matthew Diamond, Brad Fuss, Annette Jolles, Lonny Price, Alan Skog, Glenn Weiss, and Andrew Carl Wilk. Kirk Browning is credited as the longest-running director of the series, contributing to the production of 185 episodes, and winning two Primetime Emmys as well as two Daytime Emmys. The show's full-time production team, led by Wilk, is composed of Douglas Chang (Series Producer), Kristy Geslain (Producer, Lincoln Center Media Productions), Danielle Schiffman (Director, Business and Legal Affairs), Daisy Placeres (Line Producer), Gillian Campbell (Manager, Rights and Media), and Nick Palm (Post-Production Supervisor; Lead Editor).

Awards

SeasonPerformance(s)Nomination(s)Result(s)
1975–76New York Philharmonic, Andre Previn/Van Cliburn, January 30, 1976Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Technical Crafts (Mark Schubin & John Leay)Nominated
Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Won
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Tape Sound Mixing (John E. Pfeiffer)Nominated
New York City Opera, "The Barber of Seville", November 3, 1976Emmy Award for Outstanding Costume Design (Jan Skalicky)Won
1976–77New York Philharmonic, Rafael Kubelick/Claudio Arrau, November 20, 1976 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction (Rafael Kubelick)Nominated
American Ballet Theatre, "Swan Lake", June 2, 1977 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography (David Blair)Nominated
Great Performances: "Arthur Rubinstein at 90" January 26, 1977Television Critics Circle Award: Achievement in MusicWon
1977–78American Ballet Theatre, "Giselle", June 2, 1977 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Won
New York Philharmonic, Mehta/Verrett, September 24, 1978 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction (Zubin Mehta)Nominated
New York City Ballet, "Coppelia", January 31, 1978 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography (George Balanchine & Alexandra Danilova)Nominated
Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Technical Crafts (Mark Schubin)Nominated
Recital at the Metropolitan Opera House, Luciano Pavarotti, February 12, 1978 Daytime Emmy Award for Special Classification of Outstanding Program Achievement Won
American Ballet Theatre, "Evening of Repertory", May 17, 1978 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
1978–79Recital at Avery Fisher Hall, Sutherland/Pavarotti, January 22, 1979Nominated
American Ballet Theatre, "The Sleeping Beauty", May 2, 1979Nominated
1979–80New York Philharmonic, Luciano Pavarotti, January 14, 1980Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Technical Craft; "Technical Design of Stereo Simulcast" (Mark Schubin)Won
1980–81"Isaac Stern's 60th Birthday Celebration", Stern/Perlman/Zukerman, Avery Fisher Hall, September 24, 1980 Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance – Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (with Orchestra)Won
"Beverly! Her Farewell Performance", New York State Theater, January 5, 1981 Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
"Sutherland/Horne/Pavarotti" Recorded from the Trio Concert Telecast, Avery Fisher Hall, March 23, 1981Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Soloist PerformanceWon
Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Technical Crafts (Mark Schubin)Nominated
1981–82"An Evening with Danny Kaye and the New York Philharmonic", Avery Fisher Hall, September 23, 1981George Foster Peabody Personal Award to Danny KayeWon
Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Variety or a Music Program (Robert Scheerer)Nominated
Itzhak Perlman and the New York Philharmonic, Avery Fisher Hall, February 10, 1982 Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
1982–83New York Philharmonic with Zubin Mehta & Leontyne Price, September 15, 1982 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (Leontyne Price)Won
1983–84New York City Ballet, "Tribute to George Balanchine", October 10, 1983 Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
New York Philharmonic, James Galway, Zubin Mehta, February 29, 1984Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Classical/Music/Dance Program (Emile Ardolino)Nominated
"Marilyn Horne's Great American Songbook", Avery Fisher Hall, December 23, 1983Emmy Award for Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Limited Series or a Special (Matty Powers & Frank C. Cernese)Nominated
Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction (Leonard Slatkin; Jonathan Tunick; William D. Brohn; Glenn Osser; Paul Chiara; Jack Gale)Nominated
Sigma Alpha Iota Award ('84) for Outstanding Television Series (Live from Lincoln Center"Won
1985–86Live From Lincoln Center, Chamber Music Society: Worth/Gutierrez, January 12, 1986Daytime Emmy Award for Special Class Program AreaWon
Aaron Copland's 85th Birthday with the New York Philharmonic & Zubin Mehta, November 14, 1985Sigma Alpha Iota Award for Outstanding Television SeriesWon
Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
New York Philharmonic Celebration with Zubin Mehta, Stern/Perlman/Caballe, April 29, 1986Nominated
"Juilliard at 80" featuring Kelly McGillis, John Rubinstein, May 3, 1985Monitor Award for Best Achievement in Broadcast EntertainmentWon
Monitor Award for Best CameraWon
Monitor Award for Best DirectorWon
George Foster Peabody Broadcasting Award for Significant and Meritorious Achievement (Live From Lincoln Center)Won
"An Evening with Plácido Domingo" Avery Fisher Hall, February 18, 1987International Film and Television Festival of New York Silver AwardWon
1987–88New York Philharmonic, New Year's Eve Celebration, Zubin Mehta/Kathleen Battle/The Boys' Choir of Harlem Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
American Ballet Theatre, Prokofiev, "Romeo & Juliet", May 7, 1988Nominated
International Film and Television Festival of New York Silver AwardWon
Ray Charles in Concert with the New York City Ballet, May 12, 1989 Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
1989–90A Classical Jazz Christmas with Wynton Marsalis, December 22, 1989Nominated
Mostly Mozart with Itzhak Perlman, July 12, 1989Nominated
Sigma Alpha Iota Award for Outstanding Single ProgramWon
Sigma Alpha Iota Award for Outstanding Television Series (Live from Lincoln Center)Won
1990–91"Yo-Yo Ma in Concert" October 14, 1990 Daytime Emmy Award for Special Class Program Area Won
New York City Opera, "A Little Night Music", November 7, 1990 Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
Sigma Alpha Iota Award for Outstanding Television Series (Live from Lincoln Center)Won
Great Performers at Lincoln Center, "Pavarotti Plus!" January 30, 1991 Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
Mozart Bicentennial Birthday Serenade, January 27, 1991 Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program Nominated
1991–92The 100th Telecast, "Pavarotti Plus!" February 24, 1992 Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts Nominated
1993–94Live from Lincoln Center Season 18Sigma Alpha Iota Award for Outstanding Television Music SeriesWon
1994–95New York City Opera, "La Traviata" New York State Theater, March 28, 1995 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cultural Program Won
Sigma Alpha Iota Award for Outstanding Television Music SeriesWon
1996–97Mostly Mozart 30th Anniversary Opening Night Concert with Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman, July 10, 1996 Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Music-Dance Program Nominated
"A Celebration of the American Musical" Avery Fisher Hall, April 7, 1997Nominated
New York City Opera, Puccini's "La Bohème" New York State Theater, March 26, 1997Won
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special Nominated
1997–98Live from Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society: "A Celebration of Johannes Brahms with Jessye Norman and Pinchas Zukerman", May 4, 1997Daytime Emmy: Special Class ProgramNominated
1998–99New York Philharmonic + Jazz at Lincoln Center: "Ellington at 100", April 7, 1999 Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Music-Dance Program Nominated
New York City Ballet: Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake", May 5, 1999Nominated
1999–2000Mostly Mozart Festival Opening Night: James Galway and Frederica von Stade, July 28, 1999Nominated
Live from Lincoln Center: "Perlman at the Penthouse" Itzhak Perlman and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, January 5, 2000Nominated
2000–01The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: "An Evening of Beethoven" October 14, 2001 Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program Nominated
2001–02The Gershwins' "Porgy and Bess" with the New York City Opera, March 20, 2002 Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Music-Dance Program Nominated
Mostly Mozart Festival 2001, "Mozart's Requiem", September 20, 2002Nominated
2002–03Lincoln Center Theater "Contact", September 1, 2002Won
New York Philharmonic All-Gershwin New Year's Eve Concert, December 31, 2002Nominated
Live from Lincoln Center "Perlman at the Penthouse", January 22, 2003Nominated
2003–04Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: The Complete Brandenburg Concertos, December 14, 2003Won
2004–05Live from Lincoln Center: American Songbook: Stephen Sondheim's PASSION, March 31, 2005 Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program Won
Live from Lincoln Center: "Vivaldi, Haydn, & Yo-Yo Ma" April 29, 2004Nominated
New York City Ballet: Lincoln Center Celebrates Balanchine 100, May 5, 2004Won
Live from Lincoln Center: Jazz at Lincoln Center Grand Opening of Frederick P. Rose Hall – "One Family of Jazz", October 18, 2004Nominated
2005–06Jazz at Lincoln Center "Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit" September 17, 2005Emmy Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety (Alan Skog)Nominated
2006–07A Lincoln Center Special: "30 Years of Live from Lincoln Center", May 25, 2006 Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program Nominated
2007–08New York City Opera, "Madam Butterfly" March 20, 2008 Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Music-Dance Program Won
2010–11Live from Lincoln Center "Baroque Holiday with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center" December 13, 2010Daytime Emmy: Outstanding Special Class Directing (Alan Skog)Nominated
2011–12Live from Lincoln Center, New York City Ballet, George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" December 14, 2011 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Director for a Variety Special(Alan Skog)Nominated
2012–13Live from Lincoln Center, New York Philharmonic: Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel, April 26, 2013 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction (Rob Fisher)Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography (Warren Carlyle)Nominated
2014–15"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" In Concert with the New York Philharmonic, September 26, 2014 Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program Won
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Emma Thompson)Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction (Alan Gilbert)Nominated
2015–16Lincoln Center Festival, "Danny Elfman's Music from the Films of Tim Burton", October 30, 2015 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction (Danny Elfman)Won
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special (Paul Bevan, Production Mixer; Ken Hahn, Re-Recording Mixer; Skip Kent, Production Mixer; Lawrence Rock, Music Mixer)Won
New York Philharmonic, "Sinatra: Voice for a Century", December 18, 2015 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction (Alan Gilbert)Nominated
2016–17Joshua Bell: Seasons of Cuba (Live from Lincoln Center) Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction (David Lai)Nominated

Notable broadcasts

Home media

Traditionally, Live from Lincoln Center has never been made available on home video due to rights issues. A notable exception was a series of selected classic episodes licensed to Paramount Home Video and released under the "Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Presents" banner through its Bel Canto Video division in the late '80s. Kultur International Films also released a few episodes on videocassette without any branding.

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References

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  4. Vitello, Paul (29 July 2014). "John W. Mazzola, Former President of Lincoln Center, Dies at 86". The New York Times.
  5. Jensen, Elizabeth (21 May 2006). "'Live from Lincoln Center' Reviews Its 30 Years in a Taped Broadcast". The New York Times.
  6. Shattuck, Kathryn (24 May 2006). "Martin Bookspan is to Leave 'Live from Lincoln Center' After 30 Years". The New York Times.
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