Cate Blanchett, an Australian actor, was acclaimed for her portrayal of the fictional composer-conductor Lydia Tár, which earned her a Best Actress award in Venice and rumors of an eighth Oscar nomination. Lydia Tár, “one of only 15 EGOTs [winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony] in the world,” is the subject of TR, which will premiere in theaters across the UK on January 20, 2023.
We catch up with Tár when she is at the peak of her career, when her colleagues refer to her as ‘maestro’ and when she is widely regarded as one of the greatest living conductors. Blanchett stars in this monstrous role as Lydia, a famous authoritarian who loses control of her own professional legacy.
Written and directed by Todd Field, TR features a cast including Noémie Merlant, Nina Hoss, Sophie Kauer, Julian Glover, Allan Corduner and Mark Strong; this article contains all the information you need to appreciate the film’s musical elements.
Contents
Who is Lydia Tar?
“Lydia Tár is many things,” proclaims the New Yorker journalist at the book launch that opens the film, a comment cut into the trailer for dramatic effect (see above) (see above). For those who may be confused, Lydia Tár is not a real person, but rather a fictional conductor-composer who has achieved unprecedented fame both on and off stage thanks to her work.
Tár, who has conducted the Berlin orchestra for the past decade, is about to make a major live recording of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony for Deutsche Grammophon when the film opens, and she is also preparing to launch a book. The film is full of references to the real world of classical music, from the yellow label to Marin Alsop and Leonard Bernstein.
Tár slowly plots her own demise by manipulating the relationships she has with her boyfriend (the orchestra’s first violinist), her colleagues, her protégés, and her former students. When Tár learns that her adopted daughter is being bullied at school, she threatens the girl in question, then changes the entire concert schedule to accommodate the young cellist in the orchestra who has become the new target of the maestro’s attention.
Did Cate Blanchett learn to conduct and play the piano for ‘TÁR’?
The journalist continues his introduction of Tár by saying, “As a conductor, Tár started her career with the Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, until at least she ended up here with our very own New York Philharmonic.”
She also composes music for theater and television and was appointed senior conductor of Berlin in 2013. Blanchett was thus expected to play the role of a seasoned and skilled conductor. Blanchett studied music and dance as a child and then went to drama school to learn more about movement.
Since then, Blanchett has spoken in an interview with Good Morning America about the “fun” she experienced preparing for the character of Lydia by studying piano, conducting, and German. She claimed she had promised herself she would return to playing the piano after each of her pregnancies, having learned the instrument as a young girl.
She added that running the Dresden Philharmonic, a German orchestra, was really the most challenging part of her training. “You won’t be prepared for the sound of those huge orchestral compositions,” her friend had warned her before she went.
Regarding Blanchett’s performance, in a statement from the director, Field called her “a master supreme”. He reflected on the experience of filming Cate, saying, “As we were shooting the picture, Cate’s superhuman skill and verisimilitude was truly remarkable to behold.
There was a collective drive created by her efforts. Working with an artist of his quality is an honor beyond words.
What is the music in ‘TÁR’ and who performs it?
Oscar-winning Icelandic composer Hildur Gunadóttir wrote the score for Joker (2020), which will be performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra conducted by Robert Ames. The score plays a vital role in raising the tension and leading up to Tár’s eventual demise.
Since this is a film about classical music, we also get to hear works by Elgar and Bach (the Cello Concerto and the Wohltemperierte Klavier, respectively). British cellist Sophie Kauer makes her acting debut as a fictional cellist Olga Metkinawho recorded Elgar’s concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra.
The Dresden Philharmonic acts as Tár’s Berlin orchestra for the film. Gunadóttir’s Tár score will be released on October 21 by Deutsche Grammophon. Cate Blanchett, featured in the album’s artwork, is seen rehearsing Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, which features music from and is inspired by the film.
Stay connected with us for more information on our site Leedaily.com
Janice has been with businesskinda for 5 years, writing copy for client websites, blog posts, EDMs and other mediums to engage readers and encourage action. By collaborating with clients, our SEO manager and the wider businesskinda team, Janice seeks to understand an audience before creating memorable, persuasive copy.