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Music films on TV : BBC4 is screening a series of films by Christopher Nupen (AO)

Jacqueline du Pré

 

Every Friday evening from 26^th September, BBC4 will be screening several films from Allegro Films, made by Christopher Nupen. The festival starts with “Jaqueline du Pré – in Portrait”, perhaps the most famous documentary about classical music ever made. This is the film which shows du Pré playing pizzicato during a train journey, for the sheer pleasure of playing. It was revolutionary. Until then, music on film was staid and formal, almost apologising for being shown on a modern medium.  Yet music has always been visual, and television reaches out to millions who might not otherwise be even aware of classical music. When the du Pré film appeared, it shocked many. The starched suits hated it, but it went on to be the most frequently broadcast classical music documentary ever made.  Jacqueline du Pré lights up the screen.  She loves music, and her enthusiasm is infectious.  Through this film, many people have discovered how exhilarating music can be. Even if you can’t watch the broadcast, tell others, especially those who think they don’t like classical music. It might change their lives.

It’s especially good to follow these films together, because this brings out a much deeper concept.  They explore fundamental issues. What makes a person become an artist ? How do they develop and become unique personalities ?  What goes into a performance ? Why do performers do what they do ? Why do we love music ?  These films are about much more than music, but about the very nature of creativity. The real audience for these films is infinitely wider, for they address how we become what we are.  Music is just one aspect of creativity, and the ideas in these films can apply to business, education and so on.  The last film in the series, Karim’s Journey, completed only last year, is one of the finest, for it addresses the human interest angle exceptionally well.

The Jacqueline du Pré film will be followed by films on Pinchas Zukerman, Itzhak Perlman and Vladimir Ashkenazy. All contain superb performances, but focus on how each artist came to be what he is. Then there’s an excellent film on Evgeny Kissin and one of the greatest of all, a two part film about Nathan Milstein, to be shown on 31^st October and 7^th November. Milstein was a virtuoso, who played with Horowitz, but eschewed commercial fame.  But he was motivated to make these films at the age of 82, because he realized film could preserve aspects of performance no audio recording can capture. The Milstein film has won many prestigious awards, for it is a true masterpiece.

 
Anne Ozorio

For further details see  : http://www.allegrofilms.com

MusicWeb International has reviewed many of these films :
Nathan Milstein - Link
Jacqueline du Pré in Portrait - Link
Evgeny Kissin - Link
Itzhak Perlman -Link
Karim’s Journey -Link

The Vladimir Ashkenazy DVD will be released on October 1^st. A review will be published in MusicWeb shortly.

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