The Challenge of Success
A competition for young conductors organised by the RUPERT FOUNDATION in colaboration with the BBC.
To win a major international competition almost guarantees a successful career. In this particular competition the winner receives not only E5,000 prize money but, more important, a chance to work for a year with the various BBC orchestras. The Lively Arts filmed the stages of the competition over the course of a week. In the earlier rounds the contestants had to cope with a wide range of music from the standard repertoire to demonstrate their technical command and ability to work with orchestras. The final test was a public concert at the Fairfield Hall, Croydon, where each of the two finalists was required to conduct a Beethoven Symphony; a much greater challenge.
' Now that the competition is over', said the winner ' the real test begins. Now I have to prove that I was worthy of the prize. In the future, at every new concert I have to compete with my success.' Guildhall School Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra leader ELI GOREN
Film editor HOWARD BILLINGHAM Executive producer JOHN DRUMMOND
Written and directed by HERBERT CHAPPELL
(The winner conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra tomorrow, R3, 7.30 pm)