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66% Critic Match
The Only Girl in the Orchestra
6.6 / 10• 2023• 35m•G• English
DocumentaryMusic
Storyline
Trailblazing double bassist Orin O'Brien never wanted the spotlight, but when Leonard Bernstein hired her in 1966 as the first female musician in the New York Philarmonic, it was inevitable that she would become the focus of much interest and fascination. Now 87 years old and recently retired, Orin looks back on her remarkable life and career, insisting that a fuss should not be made, much preferring to play a supporting role to the family, students, friends, and colleagues that surround her.
Cast & Crew
Orin O'Brien
Self
Lead
Molly O'Brien
Self / Narrator
George O'Brien
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Marguerite Churchill
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Leonard Bernstein
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
What People Are Saying
4.0
“A staggering achievement of craft and ambition. Molly O'Brien's vision lands with breathtaking precision.”
3.0
“Every frame feels alive. The Only Girl in the Orchestra is the rare release that takes its audience seriously.”
