Nine-year-old Marin Alsop knew after attending a concert conducted by Leonard Bernstein with her father that she wanted to be a conductor. The only child of free-lance musician parents in New York City, Alsop, who began attending Julliard as a youngster, was discouraged from pursuing her conductor dreams because “girls can’t do that.” Thankfully she persevered to become the first woman to conduct an American symphony orchestra when she attained the position of a maestro for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. This delightful program follows Alsop’s musical journey, beginning as a youngster when she learned piano before mastering the violin.
We see Alsop walking the streets of New York pointing out the tiny basement apartment where she lived with her parents who were often away working. In other segments, she talks to the camera, or we hear her in voice-over commentary expressing her ambitions and telling how she formed an all-women swing music group (seen in some vintage music clips) that stayed together for 20 years. We also see her at home with her wife and son, but the main focus is music. Alsop received many rejections for applications to the conductor school and Tanglewood Music Festival to list a few.
And finally, after reaching the pinnacle of her dreams, the 2005 Baltimore Symphony Orchestra appointment was not without controversy, forcing Alsop to address orchestra members and lay out her plans (recordings and higher profile performances), showing that she was ready to lead the musicians in a positive direction. Things quieted down and her commitment to the city became evident in her many endeavors, including the formation of an orchestra devoted to kids.
Copious performance footage shows Alsop conducting major orchestras around the world, including the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra and Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. Viewers are treated to brief rehearsal and performance footage of “Scheherazade,” “Aaron Copland Symphony #3,” and “Gustav Mahler Symphony #1,” as well as historic footage with her mentor Leonard Bernstein. Alsop is an impassioned and energetic conductor and a patient teacher to other aspiring conductors, both men, and women. A valuable addition to college music and public library collections to acquaint viewers with Alsop’s accomplishments and foster discussions about women’s role in the arts. Highly Recommended. Editor’s Choice.