Australian conductor and Creative Director Natalie Murray Beale’s work encompasses opera, concert, film and video game scores.

Right now, however, she’s becoming internationally known outside of music circles for her off-camera work on director Todd Field’s new film TÁR. It was Murray Beale who taught its star, Cate Blanchett, how to convincingly wield a conductor’s baton.

With TÁR about to open in cinemas nationwide, Limelight grabbed a few minutes with Murray Beale – who trained at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music but now lives and works in London – to talk about the film’s impact and to some of the controversies it has stirred.

Natalie Murray Beale

Natalie Murray Beale, Barbican Hall, London. Photo © Mark Allan

Limelight: Natalie, first of all, congratulations on your work in the film. Australian audiences are just about to see TÁR in the cinemas (from 26 January) and there’s a great deal of interest in it, particularly in the music sector. Have you been surprised by the vehemence of some of the opinion the film has provoked?

Natalie Murray Beale: Thank you, I’m excited that there’s so much interest in the film. It was an enormous privilege...