The Trout: A Movie by Christopher Nupen
I watched Christopher Nupen's wonderful movie, “The Trout.”
I am reading Elizabeth Wilson’s excellent biography of Jacqueline du Pré, Jacqueline du Pré: Her Life, Her Music, Her Legend. I learned today from the book that in 1969 Christopher Nupen directed and filmed a performance by an exuberant and youthful quintet of musicians, including Jacqueline du Pré, of the Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 (given the popular name The Trout Quintet, from Forellenquintett), by Franz Schubert.
The film includes footage of the musicians as they arrive in the UK, a portion of their rehearsal, their backstage antics before and after the performance, and their complete performance.
The musicans were:
- Jacqueline du Pré, violoncello
- Daniel Barenboim, piano
- Itzhak Perelman, violin
- Pinchas Zukerman, viola
- Zubin Mehta, double bass
This is truly a wonderful movie that captures these brilliant musicians early in their careers. The film communicates the joy of playing chamber music.
The movie is available from Allegro Films, but at the time of writing, the DVD is sold out. A bootleg copy of the movie can be watched on YouTube.
Jacqueline du Pré’s career was shortened prematurely in 1973 by multiple sclerosis, and she died in 1987 at the early age of 42. Remarkably, the other four musicians are still alive.