Review of Jacqueline Du Pre In Portrait

Introduction

In the 1960s, Christopher Nupen made a series of groundbreaking films about classical musical artistes for the BBC. These films were unprecedented in their camerawork, in the intimacy with the subject, and had a profound effect on Arts programming. The first of these films to be released on DVD by BBC Opus Arte is a portrait of cellist Jacqueline Du Pre.

This staggeringly talented woman fell victim to Multiple Sclerosis in 1973, cutting short a promising career. Although she continued to teach (and led the famous Masterclass for the BBC), she passed away tragically early in 1987. Nupen`s In Portrait was made in 1967, and updated in 1980. For its DVD release, the documentary has been fully restored and digitally remastered. It includes the full performance of the Elgar Cello Concerto.

There are three sections to the disc. The first is Jacqueline Du Pre and the Elgar Cello Concerto. This is the main documentary (at 72 minutes), and includes both colour and monochrome photography. The second section is Christopher Nupen`s The Ghost, a performance of Beethoven`s Piano Trio No 5 in D Major Op70 No1. Jacqueline Du Pre performs alongside her husband Daniel Barenboim (piano) and Pinchas Zukerman (violin). The last section is a compilation of the Allegro Films works, a taster of other delights in the series to come.

Video

This NTSC disc (region-free) is presented in multiple formats (16:9 and 4:3), and from a variety of black-and-white and colour sources - film and videotape. Quality is therefore not consistant, but the materials are all presented at their best. The full performance of the Elgar Cello Concerto is from 1967 vintage videotape, and shows off how good that can look with proper handling.

Audio

Although the box credits LPCM Stereo and Mono tracks, the soundtrack flags as DD2.0 Mono, and as far as I can tell there is no other option. There is certainly no option to switch audio in the menus.

Features

The three main sections of the disc have specially recorded introductions by Christopher Nupen. There is also a photogallery of Jacqueline Du Pre.

Conclusion

It is always sad when somebody dies ahead of their time. It is doubly tragic when that person has some talent or gift which sets them apart as something special. Jacqueline Du Pre was somebody special, and this disc presents her at her finest. Christopher Nupen the director is a confirmed fan of the DVD medium and the possibilities it presents to him as a filmmaker. His insights on both the disc and in the cover notes are fascinating.