Last week The Only Girl In the Orchestra won an Academy Award for Best Short Documentary. It’s really worth seeing (link goes to an interview with her niece and filmmaker Molly O’Brien). For 30 minutes, you follow double bassist Orin O’Brien, the first woman admitted to the New York Philharmonic (hired in 1966). You experience her joy playing in orchestra and her philosophy about how important it is to be in a supporting role. That’s a deep message for all of us now suffocating in our “winner takes all” culture. Plus, it’s just so fun to get the perspective from the double bass section!

Films about classical music usually disappoint me. This was a delightful exception. Here are some others…

The Legacy of Rosina Lhevinne —still the best film about a classical musician I’ve ever seen, because of the way it unflinchingly portrays the complex dimensions of one of the most important pianists and music teachers of all time. And yes, I’m biased since the film was made by my piano teacher Salome Arkatov.

Talent Has Hunger—Josh Aronson’s film on cellist Paul Katz and his students at the New England Conservatory is another rare gem that hits me as absolutely true in the way it penetrates the love and sacrifice that are intrinsic to pursuing an artistic path.

The Last Repair Shop—Another recent short documentary that is authentic and a total surprise. It shines light on a few people who have devoted their lives to repairing instruments for Los Angeles school music programs. You learn their life arcs that brought them to repairing instruments and you see some of the students whose lives are enriched and changed playing the instruments.

Do you know a classical music film just as authentic and compelling? If so, please comment in this blog!