Film Screening: The Conductor

Marin Alsop was the first woman to direct the Baltimore Symphony, the São Paulo Symphony, and the Vienna Radio Symphony. She has spent a career disproving the notion that “girls can’t do that.” The Conductor invites audiences into the heart of classical music: from Magic Flute in Brazil, through Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in Lucerne, to the premiere of Bernstein’s Mass in Baltimore, and finally to Alsop’s historic opening night in Vienna. Through close-up scenes, candid interviews, and never‑before‑seen archival footage with her mentor Leonard Bernstein, the documentary shows Alsop’s artistry, the sacrifices behind each performance, and her dedication to nurture a new, inclusive generation of conductors. The Conductor is a story of resilience, mentorship, and music that resonates far beyond the concert hall. The screening is part of the workshop “Gender, Authority, and Trust” taking place at the Heidelberg Center for American Studies of Ruperto Carola.