Scott Yoo Spotlights the Musical Learning Journey in New Season of Now Hear This from Great Performances Premiering Fridays, April 12-May 3 at 9 p.m. on PBS
Host Scott Yoo travels to Japan, Singapore, New York City, Boston and more to play alongside violinists Chloe Chua, Augustin Hadelich, Grammy-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma and more
Spotlighting his own personal expedition of learning and growth, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Mexico City Philharmonic and series host Scott Yoo returns for a fifth season of the critically acclaimed miniseries Great Performances: Now Hear This. In these new episodes, Yoo tracks the journey of classical musical artists from their start as rising stars, to becoming virtuosos, to achieving the title of “maestro.” Yoo also explores his process composing music for the very first time and taking inspiration from his Japanese heritage. Speaking with musical stars located all over the world, from New York to Singapore, including accomplished newcomer 16-year-old violinist Chloe Chua and multi-Grammy Award-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Yoo is reminded of his own career path and the values of collaboration, support, practice, dedication and sacrifice. Great Performances: Now Hear This Series 5 premieres Fridays, April 12-May 3 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/nowhearthis and the PBS app.
Great Performances: Now Hear This “Rising Stars”
Premieres Friday, April 12 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/nowhearthis and the PBS app
Scott Yoo investigates the origins of young musicians by exploring their learning process and revisiting his training ground, Juilliard Pre-College. Playing along with some of tomorrow’s stars, Yoo appreciates the rigorous training, hours of practice, and dedication from both the students and their families. Traveling to Singapore, he meets Chloe Chua, a highly accomplished 16-year-old violinist recording her third concerto with the Singapore Symphony. Observing these rising stars and their networks of families and teachers, Yoo is reminded of what it takes to become a “prodigy” and what that word means to a musician. The episode features performances by talented adolescent musicians on piano, trombone and more.
Places visited: Singapore, New York City
Great Performances: Now Hear This “Virtuosos”
Premieres Friday, April 19 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/nowhearthis and the PBS app
With time and practice, rising stars become virtuosos. Scott Yoo revisits the legacy of one of the greatest violinists of all time, Niccolò Paganini, with one of today’s violin stars, Augustin Hadelich, and even meets with the great-great-great-grandson of Paganini. Observing how talented artists improve their craft in other fields, Yoo also follows Cirque du Soleil acrobat Sarah Turner as she learns a new stunt and discovers the mental prowess it takes in addition to physical skill. Yoo also explores the background of early 20th century blues musician Robert Johnson with five-time Grammy Award winner Keb’ Mo’, and even walks through the artisan process of creating the most perfect Parmigiano Reggiano in Italy.
Places visited: Parma, Italy; Las Vegas; Nashville; New Haven, Connecticut
Great Performances: Now Hear This “Old Friends”
Premieres Friday, April 26 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/nowhearthis and the PBS app
When virtuosos become maestros, they attain expert status. Revisiting his relationships with current maestros, Scott Yoo speaks with renowned Grammy-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma, concert pianist and psychiatrist Dr. Richard Kogan, and celebrated violinist and instructor Lynn Chang. As college friends who have played together, the trio reflects on their long careers and what they see in present-day students. Examining their respective paths to success alongside their pupils, Yoo highlights the impact these maestros have on rising musicians today. Visiting different orchestras and students, Yoo also discovers more about the relationship between science and music.
Places visited: Boston, Dallas
Great Performances: Now Hear This “The Composer is Yoo”
Premieres Friday, May 3 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/nowhearthis and the PBS app
For the first time in his life, Yoo sets out on a journey to compose a piece of music. Deciding on a chamber quartet but unsure of how to begin writing, he consults with other composers like Stuart Goodyear, who channels his Trinidadian roots, along with bassist and pianist Susan Cahill, and plays familiar music to uncover his own musical style. Yoo decides to search for inspiration from his Japanese heritage, and notebook in hand, he travels to Japan to try new activities like the martial art of aikido, meditation, and visiting an interactive arts exhibit to stave off writer’s block and invite inspiration. Finally, Yoo presents the work in progress.
Places visited: California, Japan, New York City, Chicago
Yoo is the Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Mexico City Philharmonic and the Music Director of Festival Mozaic, conductor of the Colorado College Music Festival and the Founder of the Medellín Festicámara, a chamber music program that brings together world-class artists with underprivileged young musicians. Recently, he conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and also led L’Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Yomiuri Nippon Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, San Francisco Symphony and many others.
For more than 50 years on PBS, Great Performances has provided an unparalleled showcase of the best in all genres of the performing arts, serving as America’s most prestigious and enduring broadcaster of cultural programming. Showcasing a diverse range of artists from around the world, the series has earned 67 Emmy Awards and six Peabody Awards. The Great Performances website hosts exclusive videos, interviews, photos, full episodes and more. The series is produced by The WNET Group. Great Performances is available for streaming concurrent with broadcast on PBS.org and the PBS App, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO.
Great Performances: Now Hear This was created by producer, writer and director Harry Lynch and is a production of Arcos Film + Music. Harry Lynch, Scott Yoo and Richard Lim are executive producers.
Funding for Now Hear This is provided by Ann and Fletch Waller, Patricia Needleman, and the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts. Series funding for Great Performances is provided by The Joseph & Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, the Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, the Abra Prentice Foundation, LLC, Jody and John Arnhold, The Starr Foundation, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Leni and Peter May, Seton J. Melvin, the Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Trust, the Estate of Worthington Mayo-Smith, and Ellen and James S. Marcus.
