a look at the music of Vangelis Papathanassiou

Introduction
Henry Chapier (sometimes also referred to as Henri Chapier) is known to many as the director of some of the most mysterious and sought-after films ever. But there is more to this familiar but at the same time unknown name than meets the eye. In France Henry Chapier (1933) is well known as a journalist, cinema critic and TV personality. Outside of France however his name is mostly associated with Vangelis, who made the filmscores to three of his four contributions to French filmmaking in the early seventies.

Any of the films that Henry Chapier directed are mysterious in the sense that not much information is available about them still. Some of these films were shown on film festivals, and it is likely that at least "Sex Power" and "Amore" have played in French cinemas at the time. After that, nothing was heard from them again...

Vangelis' scores for the three films he cooperated on with Henry Chapier are mysterious as well. Even though the score for "Sex Power" was released on LP by Philips in 1970, all music made for "Salut Jerusalem" and "Amore" remains unreleased until now, and unheard by anyone who didn't see the films in the early seventies...

Biography
Born in Bucarest, Romania Henry moved with his parents to France in 1947. In 1959 he wins the first prize for the best upcoming journalist in France while publishing for "Lexpress" and "Les lettres nouvelles". At the end of the sixties while establishing a name as a controversial crtitic, Henry follows his love for the cinema and sets out to direct two short films and two movies.

In 1974 Henry Chapier takes the position of chief-editor at "Quotidien de Paris", while in 1978 he moves on to the French television channel FR3 as an director and editor. There he establishes a name as "Monsieur Cinema".

From 1987 to 1995 Henry Chapier hosts a TV-show "Le Divan" where he interviews mostly French but also some international celebrities. Vangelis also appeared on this show, in 1991. Then in 1996 Henry joins the jury of the film festival in Cannes, while in the same year taking on the position of president of the European House of Photography (MEP). More recently, in 2003 Henry Chapier presented a show on CANAL+ titled "Merci pour l'info".

Filmography

Note: films marked with years in orange are confirmed to contain Vangelis' music.

Movements