Orchestra Rehearsal (1978)

An orchestra assmbles for a rehearsal in an ancient chapel under the inquisive eyes of a TV documentary crew, but an uprising breaks out.

Director:

Federico Fellini

Writers:

Federico Fellini (story), Federico Fellini

Stars:

Balduin Baas, Clara Colosimo, Elizabeth Labi

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Balduin Baas	...	Conductor
Clara Colosimo	...	Harp player
Elizabeth Labi	...	Piano player
Ronaldo Bonacchi	...	Bassoon player
Ferdinando Villella	...	Cello player
Franco Javarone	...	Bass tuba player (as Giovanni Javarone)
David Maunsell	...	First violin
Francesco Aluigi	...	Second violin
Andy Miller	...	Oboe player
Sibyl Mostert	...	Flute player
Franco Mazzieri	...	Trumpet player
Daniele Pagani	...	Trombone player
Luigi Uzzo	...	Violin player
Cesare Martignon	...	Clarinet player
Umberto Zuanelli	...	Copyist

Storyline

In a Medieval Roman chapel, now an oratorio, an elderly factotum sets up for rehearsal. The musicians arrive, joking and teasing. A union shop steward explains that a TV crew is there, talking to them is optional, and there will be no extra compensation. Musicians talk about their instruments. The German conductor arrives and puts them through their paces. He yells, he insults. The shop steward calls a 20 minute break. The conductor retreats to his dressing room and talks about how the world of music has changed, moving away from respect for the conductor. He returns to the rehearsal to find the orchestra in full revolt. What can bring them back to the music?

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Plot Keywords:

parable | anarchy | italy | conductor | orchestra | 

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Taglines:

The Decline of the West in C# Major

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy West Germany

Language:

Italian German

Release Date:

22 February 1979 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Federico Fellini's Orchestra Rehearsal

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Daimo Cinematografica, RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana, Albatros Filmproduktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When they are interviewing the first violinists, you can see that the harpist in the background is not playing but you can hear harp music playing.

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Connections

Featured in In Search of Fellini (2017)

User Reviews

the Orchestra as a microcosm of society, or a small Fellini exercise, you decide- I think it's both

In most of Federico Fellini's best films, he made big statements about the way we live and socialize with each other and deal with ourselves as much as the past, all within exciting, tragic-comic film-making style. Orchestra Rehearsal does the same, though in a shorter amount of time. We are given a (union) orchestra in Italy, who's members vary from young adults to the old timers, women, introverts, trouble makers, and so forth, who each have their own music of choice (or sometimes of necessity). The conductor is frustrated- he can barely get the orchestra to concentrate much less really practice, and the union problems get things caught in the way as they rip through the ironically happy and (typically) carnival-like pieces. There's a break taken, which is when everything starts to slowly, but surely, wind down and breakdown among the musicians. In the meantime a television crew stands by taking 'interviews' of the musicians, their opinions, their little 'off' moments, signaling the anarchy that will soon ensue.

The interviews themselves are some of the strongest, funniest parts of the film- the interviewers get (sometimes begrudgingly) words on their instruments, why they play, how they play, and what role their music has in the world. These interviews can also be hit-or-miss sometimes, and because of the constant dialog (there's sometimes barely a breath to be had, as is the beautiful claustrophobic style in Fellini's characters), there's almost too much information going on. There's also the tendency for the character(s), whom are mostly portrayed by un-professionals (to acting, not to music of course), to not be very convincing, or even a little boring (the conductor's monologue in his room, for example, is one of the weaker parts of the film for me). But then it does start to pick up in insane, trademark Fellini fashion as the musicians rebel, and an unexpected surprise comes heading their way.

It's likely that Orchestra Rehearsal isn't one of Fellini's very best films, but it is one that captivates as it bemuses, brings laughs as it does thought, and it isn't necessarily a wasteful experience (some may not like it much at all, at least in comparison to his masterpieces). Not to forget the incalculable, lasting power of Nina Rota's music, which drives the film's bombastic, heart-racing rehearsing scenes (there is also humor underneath much of the music, like when the musicians have their own little solos as jokes). There's something always satisfying when a composer is on the same page as the director he's writing for, and few were ever so in tune as Fellini and Rota. And even during some parts that don't add up, their combination helps out a lot. As mentioned before, one could even think deeper into the ideas and thoughts and characters in the film as almost a microcosm of society itself, its easy-going people, its hard-nosed people, its incendiaries, its nostalgics, and its normals and eccentrics. Or, one can just take the Fellini ride, so to speak, and enjoy some 70 minutes with Fellini & company.