The special, a collection of highlights from the first three decades of the groundbreaking program, will be seen starting at 8 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).
Among the segments on the program:
Pianist Van Cliburn performing as part of the first Live From Lincoln Center broadcast (1976);
Natalia Makarova and Ivan Nagy in American Ballet Theatre's Swan Lake (1976);
Soprano Beverly Sills in New York City Opera's The Barber of Seville (1976);
Pianist Andr_ Watts performing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue (1976);
Mikhail Baryshnikov in American Ballet Theatre's Giselle (1977);
Mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne performing with the New York Philharmonic (1979);
Tenor Luciano Pavarotti singing "Nessun dorma" from Turandot with Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic (1980);
Violinists Isaac Stern and Itzhak Perlman performing with Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic (1980);
Comedian Danny Kaye conducting the New York Philharmonic (1981);
Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic at composer Aaron Copland's 85th-birthday concert (1985);
Tenor Plšcido Domingo singing Puccini with the New York City Opera Orchestra (1987);
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing Dvoršk's Cello Concerto with Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic (1988);
An interview with composer Stephen Sondheim (1990);
The Lincoln Center Theater production of Susan Stroman's musical Contact (2002);
New York City Ballet in Vienna Waltzes from a celebration of the 100th anniversary of George Balanchine's birth (2004);
Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra performing "Ain' No" from the Higher Ground hurricane relief special (2005);
and Ren_e Fleming singing "Vissi d'Arte" from Puccini's Tosca at the Juilliard School's 100th-anniversary gala earlier this month.
One yet-to-be named segment was chosen based on votes cast by the public (voting ended on April 17). The special will also include introductions by Sills, flutist James Galway, Perlman, Fleming, violinist Joshua Bell, Marsalis, and New York City Ballet ballet master in chief Peter Martins.
Live From Lincoln Center was created in 1976 by John Goberman, who remains executive producer. The first broadcast, on January 30, 1976, featured the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Andr_ Previn. Cliburn was the soloist.
The show has been nominated for 51 Emmys and has won 12 awards.
