Sad news: Chris Nupen has died
RIPWe have been notified by the family of the death of Christopher Nupen, the best classical music documentary maker that television has ever known.
Chris was 88 and had been suffering from a long debilitating illness.
South African born, he arrived in British television just as cameras became mobile, lightweight and silent. He formed close friendships with Barenboim, Ashkenazy, Du Pre and their circle.
In later years he made composer biopics and a documentary about Jews in German culture.
I feel particularly grateful that Christopher Nupen captured something of Jaqueline du Pré’s radiant personality.
A great master, who captured and preserved on film the genius of the 20th century’s greatest instrumentalists for all eternity. Thank you, dear Christopher, for these great gifts – rest in eternal peace!
Baruch dayan emess
A life well lived. And thanks from music-lovers.
Sad news indeed. Let us be grateful that he captured on film not just their enormous musical gifts but also their personalities and humour; that he believed in spontaneous film-making as well as that which was planned. These documentaries have, and will, stand the test of time.
His documentary The Trout still gives endless pleasure – a wonderful snapshot of a golden moment. RIP.
RIP- Christopher Nupen. Those life affirming films about Jacqueline Du Pre, Barenboim, Perlman et al & more recently Kissin, Trifinov & others. With his poetic & quiet delivery, never vulgar or sensationalist like so many of today’s third rate broadcasters- he always put a love of music first.