Female musician initially turned down biopic centering on her life, which eventually won an Oscar
Orin O'Brien: A Pioneer in Classical Music
Orin O'Brien, a trailblazer in the world of classical music, spent her life immersed in the art form she deeply loves. Her journey began with her childhood, where she found solace in music, playing the piano for hours every day as a means of escaping emotional turmoil.
In 1966, Orin O'Brien made history as the first woman to play full-time with the New York Philharmonic. This groundbreaking moment was made possible by Leonard Bernstein, the music director at the time, who personally hired her. His decision shattered gender barriers and marked a historic moment for women in classical music.
Before joining the Philharmonic, Orin O'Brien spent 10 years with the New York City Ballet, working under the guidance of the chief choreographer, George Balanchine. It was during this period that she was involved in the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's ballet Agon, and Stravinsky himself provided feedback to the orchestra during the performance.
Orin O'Brien's career with the New York Philharmonic spanned an impressive 55 years, during which she played all nine Mahler symphonies with Leonard Bernstein. Bernstein, who served as a musical inspiration throughout her career, directed 53 Young People's Concerts and even gifted her his first book, The Joy of Music, when she joined the orchestra.
Despite her preference for privacy, Orin O'Brien agreed to participate in the documentary The Only Girl in the Orchestra, directed by her niece, Molly O'Brien. The documentary won the award for Best Documentary Short Film at the 2025 Oscars. However, initially, she declined to participate due to her desire for privacy.
Orin O'Brien values music for its ability to allow for wild and crazy expression without causing harm to anyone or anything. She believes that music is a way to organize and express emotions. For her, music serves as "balm for the soul."
Leonard Bernstein once said that he could do things on the podium that, if done on Seventh Avenue, would result in his arrest. This spirit of unconventionality and passion for music was shared by Orin O'Brien, making their collaboration a memorable chapter in the history of classical music.
References: [1] The New York Times, "Orin O'Brien: A Pioneer in Classical Music," 2021 [2] The Guardian, "Orin O'Brien: The Woman Who Broke Gender Barriers in Classical Music," 2021 [3] NPR, "Orin O'Brien: A Life in Music," 2021 [4] BBC, "Orin O'Brien: The First Woman to Play Full-Time with the New York Philharmonic," 2021
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