Nicolas Bacri continues
to make a deserved name for himself
with music that veers between the poles
of Bergian indulgence and neo-romanticism.
Here he announces his presence for the
first time on an international label
and with a conductor and orchestra of
similar celebrity.
The four movement (eight
section) Prière in part
looks to Gorecki's Symphony of Sorrowful
Songs - a work that affected Bacri
as much as it did Peteris Vasks. There
is a long largo cantabile. The
multo ruvido (tr. 3) is by no
means meditative; it bursts into darting
aggressive activity and is seasoned
with a touch of Jewish temperament.
There is a passacaglia notable for fast
hunting activity pecking away with all
the rawness of a violin-led scherzo
by Shostakovich. Long melodic lines
are spun by the orchestra in a stimulating
counterpoint. Then follows another scherzo.
Here the predominant mood is that of
a nocturnal dream-flight through a forest.
The trio is dignified and extremely
serious with the great draughts of air
recalling the epic pacing of a Roy Harris
largo. In the ricapitolazione
we revert to the mood and atmosphere
of the first section of the largo
cantabile. It is not a carbon copy
of Gorecki 3 but there are affinities.
Other potently suggestive cross-references
include the heartfelt opening of the
Berg Violin Concerto, the ecstatic apotheosis
of The Lark Ascending and the
slow consolatory march that is the end
of Pettersson 7. At the last breath
the violin rises to a gleaming Tuonela-like
glow.
Korcia's silken aggression
of tone reminds me very much of Paul
Zukofsky. It’s a pity that the disc
tells us nothing about Korcia who is
clearly a redoubtable player.
Rob Barnett
BMG
RCA RED SEAL 82876 584162 [22:33]