Concerto For Orchestra

From the Film Australia Collection. Made by the Commonwealth Film Unit 1965. Directed by Robert Parker. The life and work of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra including a rehearsal conducted by Dean Dixon. This film shows how the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, under its conductor Dean Dixon is welded from a number of individuals with a variety of tastes into an integrated unit with a common purpose. The title for the film was taken from the brilliant work of Hungarian composer Bela Bartok, who wrote Concerto for Orchestra. The music is particularly suitable as a framework for a film about a symphony orchestra for besides being an established masterpiece of this age, it gives full scope to all sections of the orchestra. The story opens one hour before the concert at the Town Hall. Dean Dixon is backstage in the office of the orchestral manager. The conductor explains that he has tried to make it a policy to arrive at the hall one hour before the commencement of a concert. He adds that early arrival enables him to dress leisurely and go over in his mind the words, gestures and interpretations he will use during the performance in order to bring out the best in each player.