The Only Girl in the Orchestra

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The Only Girl in the Orchestra

G

2023

34m

Documentary

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6 Reviews

88%

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50+ Ratings

Celebrating trailblazing double bassist Orin O'Brien, the first woman to become a full-time member of the New York Philharmonic.

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Juan José Beteta

Cinencuentro

...The Only Girl in the Orchestra is a short but substantial documentary that shows the richness of a life dedicated to the art of music and illustrates the autonomy of women. It is well worth seeing. [Full review in Spanish]

Mar 10, 2025

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Emiliano Basile

EscribiendoCine

...a documentary as enjoyable to watch and listen to as its unique protagonist. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 8/10

Mar 10, 2025

Full Review

Abhishek Srivastava

The Times of India

[The Only Girl in the Orchestra] sensitively captures her passion for the double bass, her steadfast work ethic, and her commitment to passing on her knowledge to future generations.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 6, 2025

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Christopher Campbell

Nonfics (Substack)

Orin O'Brien certainly deserves this greater recognition of her status and talent now, but it could be even shorter.

Feb 14, 2025

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Diana Cheng

Ripple Effects

... this gem of a documentary could well reflect what Orin stands for, a pure joy, passionate in its production, unassuming but inspiring in essence.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 26, 2025

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Paul Emmanuel Enicola

The Movie Buff

Delightfully insightful and criminally short, “The Only Girl in the Orchestra” serves as a masterclass not only on how to make it in music; but also how to succeed in life.

Rated: A-

Nov 26, 2024

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Fitri A

Inspiration movie, love it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/22/25

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David F

A short documentary about a pioneering double bass player who was the first woman to break through into a classical music institution.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/16/25

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Gregory W

This lady is amazing. First woman in the NY Philharmonic, retires after 51 years, has the most NYC apartment ever, is nearly 90 but looks 70, and still kicks some bass ass. Kinda want to be her when I grow up. A feel-good half hour.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/25

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Jonathan K

"Music helps us organize our emotions." What a cool lady. No pretense. She's just going to show up, tell you exactly who she is, and be present with exactly what she's feeling, with what's going on with her. It’s a rare kind of authenticity, and it's beautiful. Now, did the director get the documentary they were aiming for? Maybe not entirely, but that doesn't matter in the end. The story still stands as a portrait of a life fully lived -- someone who never tried to make the story about themselves, and as a result, is wholly content with who they are and what their life has been.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/23/25

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Garry A

I really enjoyed learning about Orin's rich history and her experience as the first woman to play in the Orchestra. She is full of personality and passion.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/25

Full Review

matthias s

**Review – 2.5/5** Orin O’Brien is a delight—funny, charming, and undeniably talented. It’s easy to see why she deserves this documentary. As a musician, she’s exceptional; as a person, even better. But *The Only Girl in the Orchestra* plays it a little too safe. It’s a perfectly fine short doc, giving us a glimpse into her passion, but it never really digs deep. Nothing groundbreaking, nothing particularly fresh—just a straightforward tribute to a great musician. It’s enjoyable, but it leaves you wanting more substance. A nice watch, but not a must-watch.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/25

Full Review

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Molly O'Brien

Director

Orin O'Brien

Self

Molly O'Brien

Producer

Lisa Remington

Producer

Martina Radwan

Cinematographer

Monique Zavistovski

Film Editing

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Synopsis

Celebrating trailblazing double bassist Orin O'Brien, the first woman to become a full-time member of the New York Philharmonic.

Director: Molly O'Brien
Producer: Molly O'Brien, Lisa Remington
Distributor: Netflix
Rating: G
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 4, 2024
Runtime: 34m

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