After titles like Tár (2022) and the Dutch film The Conductor (2018), Western female conductors continue to intrigue audiences as they strive to succeed in the last glass ceiling in music. But classical music isn’t restrained to the West, and South Korea’s orchestral world is now showcased in Maestra: Strings of Truth. A remake of the French television series Philharmonia, the series goes through the trials and tribulations Cha Se-eum goes through to establish her leadership in the conductor role back home, as well as the multiple mysteries that might have caused her to leave in the first place. While the show’s first two episodes slowly portray her backstory, Lee Young-ae holds the show on her shoulders, and grounds the drama with her stoic and charismatic presence. It’s a compelling drama, with such a compelling personality, and it’s scored with some of the best classical pieces in the world.

With only 5% of conductors in the world being women, conducting is one of the last glass ceilings for women in the music industry, and the few that do need to be able to stand out. Maestra: Strings of Truth portrays one such conductor in Cha Se-eum, and with a stern and cutthroat reputation, it’s easy to see how Se-eum can alienate her fellow musicians, and possibly the audience. However, Lee Young-ae has such a subtle and charismatic presence that hints at Se-eum’s deeper emotions even as she reacts stoically to the orchestra that locked her out, or to her controlling, manipulative ex. Lee Young-ae carries the show on her more than capable shoulders, and it’s her performance that will keep us watching as the series progresses.