Nicolas Bacri (born 23 November 1961) is a French composer. His written works include seven symphonies, eleven string quartets, eight cantatas, two one-act operas, three piano sonatas, two cello and piano sonatas, four violin and piano sonatas, seven piano trios, four violin concertos and numerous other concertante works.
After graduating in 1983 with the premier prix in composition, he attended the French Academy in Rome.[1] Back in Paris, he worked for four years (1987–91) as the Director of Chamber Music for Radio France.[2] Bacri organized the very first performance in France of the complete 15 string quartets cycle by Shostakovich (1989–90 season with the Manhattan String Quartet as a symbol of the end of cold war) and featured for the first time in France the major composers of Terezin: Pavel Haas, Gideon Klein, Hans Krasa and Viktor Ullmann. Since then, he has concentrated on free-lance composing, receiving commissions from major institutions and festivals around the world. Bacri taught orchestration at the Geneva Conservatory (HEM/HES) from 2005 to 2011. He regularly gives masterclasses in composition in France and abroad (in USA: Rochester Eastman School of music... Russia: Ekaterinburg Ural Academy and China: Beijing Conservatory).
Bacri has received important commissions in all major musical fields: opera, symphony, concertante, vocal, choral and chamber music. In February 2020 Riccardo Muti conducted the world premiere of his Concertante Elegy for Bass Clarinet and Orchestra op. 150 "Ophelia's Tears," with soloist J. Lawrie Bloom, a piece commissioned by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Reviewing this performance, Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune wrote: "The openly emotional writing for the bass clarinet (...) surely defied musical fashions of our noisy age."
In his book The Classical Revolution: Thoughts on New Music in the 21st Century, John Borstlap hailed Bacri as "the most important French composer since Messiaen and Dutilleux...". Bacri has been Professor of Composition at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional (CRR) de Paris (October 2017-October 2023) and at the Schola Cantorum (Paris) (October 2018-October 2023).
In his book Notes étrangères, published in 2004 by Seguier (coll. Carré musique, re-edition by L'Harmattan, 2020), Bacri expresses his ideas as:
“My music is not Neoclassical, it is Classical,
for it retains the timeless aspect of Classicism: the rigor of expression.
My music is not Neo-romantic, it is Romantic,
for it retains the timeless aspect of Romanticism: the density of expression.
My music is Modern, for it retains the timeless aspect of Modernism:
the broadening of the field of expression.
My music is Postmodern, for it retains the timeless aspect of Postmodernism:
the mixture of techniques of expression.”
Bacri's Symphony No. 6, Op. 60, was a finalist in the 2003 Masterprize international composing competition.[3][4][5]
Concerto for trumpet ( (Episodes pour trompette, orchestre à cordes, instruments à vent, piano, timbales et caisse-claire en hommage à Michael Tippett) op. 39 (1992/93)
Sonata for violin and piano op. 40 (1993–94)
Trois Alleluia [Three Halleluja] op. 41 for a cappella female chorus (1994)
Four Halleluja's op. 41b for female chorus and orchestra (1994)
String Quartet No. 4 (Ommagio a Beethoven) op. 42 (1989–90/93-94/rev.95-96)(to the Lindsay Quartet)
Im Volkston (Divertimento for clarinet, violin and cello) op. 43 (1994)
Cantata No. 4 (Shakespeare Sonnet No. 66) for mezzo-soprano and string orchestra (or cello ensemble) op. 44 (1994–95)
Sonata breve (Solo violin sonata No. 1/Sonatina in omaggio a Mozart) op. 45 (1994)
L'Enfance de l'Art seven youth pieces for piano op. 69 No. 1 (1976–79/rev.2000-03)
Cahier pour Eloi for piano op. 69 No. 2 (1977–79/rev.2000-01)
Petites variations sur un thème dodécaphonique for piano op. 69 No. 3 (1979)
Viola Sonata "Sonata variata" for solo viola op. 70 (2000–01)
Suite No. 5 "Sonata variata" for solo cello op. 70b (2000–01)
"Sonata variata" for solo violin op. 70c (2000–01)
O Lux Beatissima (Motet No. 7 for a cappella female chorus) op. 71 (2001)
Sinfonietta for string orchestra op. 72 (2001)
Night Music for clarinet and cello op. 73 (2001)
Notturno for oboe and string orchestra op. 74 (2001)
Sonate No 2 for violin and piano op. 75 (2002)
Elégie for violin and piano op. 75b (2002)
Kol Nidrei Sonata (Sonate No. 3 for violin solo) op. 76 (2002)
Isiltasunaren ortzadarra (Cantata No. 5 for mezzo-soprano, chorus and orchestra) op. 77 (2001–02)
Heriotzetik Bizitzera for a cappella chorus op. 77b (2002)
Beatus Vir (Motet No. 8 for a cappella chorus) op. 78 (2002)
Three Nocturnes for flute and string trio op. 79 (2002)
The Four Seasons, Four Concertos for oboe (or violin), violin, viola and cello (or bassoon) and string orchestra op. 80 (to François Leleux) (2000–11) :
Concerto nostalgico, (Autumn) for oboe (or violin) and cello (or bassoon) and string orchestra op. 80 No. 1 (2000/02)
Concerto amoroso, for oboe (or violin) and violin and string orchestra op. 80 No. 2 (2004–05)
Concerto tenebroso, for oboe (or violin) and viola and string orchestra op. 80 No. 3 (2009)
Concerto luminoso, for oboe (or violin) and violin, viola, cello and string orchestra op. 80 No. 4 (2010–11)
Lamento, Ach das ich Wassers genug hätte for counter-tenor (or mezzo-soprano) and string orchestra (or cello ensemble) op. 81 (2002)
Lamento, Ach das ich Wassers genug hätte (Motet No. 9 for a cappella chorus) op. 81b (2002)
Sonate d'Yver for two cellos op. 82 (2002–03)
Concerto No. 3 for violin and orchestra op. 83 (1999–2000/2002-03)
Sinfonia concertante (for cello and orchestra) op. 83a (1999–2000/2002-03/04)
Suite for Wind octet op. 83b (2003)
Preludio, Minuetto e Fuga for two cellos op. 83c (2003/13)
A Short Overture for orchestra op. 84 (1978/2002-03)
Elégie in memoriam D.S.C.H. for string orchestra op. 85 (2003/rev.06/12)
Elégie in memoriam D.S.C.H. for symphony orchestra op. 85b (2003/rev.06/12)
Stabat Mater for violin solo, solo soprano and chorus op. 86 (2003)
Cantata Vivaldiana (Cantata No. 6 on the Nisi Dominus) for counter-tenor (or mezzo-soprano) and string orchestra op. 87 (2003-04/rev.10-11)
Suite No. 6 op. 88 for cello solo (2004/rev.2015)
Partita for Orchestra op. 88b (2004)
Partita concertante for flute (or oboe or clarinet or bassoon) and string quartet or string orchestra op. 88b (2004)
Partita da camera for flute (or oboe or clarinet or bassoon) and string trio op. 88c (2004)
L'arbre à musique ou les aventures de Séraphine (Children's tale for narrator and small orchestra) op. 89 (2004)
Nocturne for cello and string orchestra op. 90 (2004)
Prelude and Fugue (piano) op. 91 (2004)
12 Monologues Pascaliens for solo flute (or oboe) op. 92 (2004)
Miserere (Motet No. 10 for a cappella chorus) op. 93 (2004)
Meditation after a theme from Beethoven for cello ensemble op. 94 (2004)
Sonata in memoriam Bela Bartok for two violins op. 95 (2005)
Three Love Songs for soprano and orchestra (or piano) op. 96 (2005)
String Quartet No. 6 op. 97 (2005–06)
Sonata seria Piano Trio No. 4 op. 98 (2006)
Serenade mélancolique" for guitar op. 99 (2004)
Diletto classico for piano op. 100 (2006-07)
A Smiling Suite for piano, clarinet and violin (after Diletto classico) op. 100b (2006-07)
Variations sérieuses (String Quartet No. 7) op. 101 (2006-07) (in memoriam Robert Simpson)
Meditation on a Chinese theme for Ehru and orchestra op. 102 (2006-07)
2 Esquisses lyriques for piano op. 103 (2006-07)
2 Esquisses lyriques for cello and piano op. 103b (2006-07)
Nocturne for the left hand for piano op. 104 (2006-07)
Piano Sonata No. 2, op. 105 (2007/rev.08/10)
Sonata/Meditation, for violin (or viola, or cello) solo op. 106 (2008)
Via Crucis, Variations for wind orchestra, op. 107 (2008)
Sonatina lirica, for clarinet (or viola, or alto saxophone) and piano (or string quartet) op. 108 No. 1 (2008)
Sonatina lapidaria, for clarinet (or viola, or alto saxophone) and piano op. 108 No. 2 (2009)
Monsieur "M", musical tale for narrator and seven players, op. 109 (2008)
Lucifer variations, for viola and bassoon, op. 109 No. 2 (2008/10-11)
Lucifer variations, for cello and bassoon (or two cellos), op. 109 No. 2b (2008/10-11)
Variations faciles, for piano (after Lucifer variations), op. 109 No. 2c (2008/10-11)
Lyric Interlude (A Study in Pastoral Style), for English horn (or flute, or clarinet, or viola), violin and cello op. 110 (2008)
Lyric Interlude (A Study in Pastoral Style), for English horn (or flute, or clarinet, or viola) and piano op. 110b (2008)
Lyric Interlude (A Study in Pastoral Style), for English horn (or flute, or clarinet, or viola) and piano op. 110b (2008)
Trois Rêveries, for flute and piano, op. 111 No. 2 (1978/2014-15)
Petite Suite, for flute and piano, op. 111 No. 3 (2015)
String Quartet No. 8 (Omaggio a Haydn), op. 112 (2008-09)
Hope (Motet No. 11), for female chorus, op. 113 (2009)
Entre terres, for narrator, orchestra and chorus, op. 114 (2009)
Three Impromptus, for flute and piano, op. 115 (2005/09)
Winter's Night (Concerto-Méditation), for violin and string orchestra, op. 116 (2008-09)
Musica concertante, for horn (or viola, or cello) and piano, op. 117a (2008-10/12)
Musica concertante, for horn (or viola, or cello) and wind orchestra, op. 117b (2008-10/12)
Musica concertante, for horn and string orchestra, op. 117c (2008-10/12)
Musica concertante, for viola (or cello) and string orchestra, op. 117d (2008-10/12)
2010s
Quasi una Fantasia (Concerto for three violins and orchestra), op. 118 (2010)
Melodias de la Melancolia (Four Songs on words by Alvaro Escobar-Molina), for soprano and piano, op. 119a (2010)
Melodias de la Melancolia (Four Songs on words by Alvaro Escobar-Molina), for soprano and orchestra, op. 119b (2010)
Magnificat, for female chorus, two violins and cello, op. 120 (2011)
Métamorphoses for solo cello, op. 121 No. 1 (in hommage to Henri Dutilleux) & 2 (on the name of Benjamin Britten)(2011/12)
Sonata a quattro (Quasi variazioni for four clarinets) op. 142a (2016)
Baltimore sketches for string quartet op. 142b (2016–17)
Trio lirico (Piano Trio No. 5) for clarinet (or violin), viola (or cello, or horn) and piano, op. 143 (2016–17)
Trois Esquisses lyriques for piano (Valse triste et Chanson & Danse) op. 144 (2017)
Of time and Love (Cantata No. 8 for soprano or tenor and piano(or string sextet or string orchestra)on Shakespeare sonnets 63 to 65 op. 145 (2017–18)
Ophelia's Mad Scene (from Shakespeare's Hamlet) for high soprano and clarinet op. 146a (2018)
Ophelia (Solo for clarinet or Bass-Clarinet op. 146b) (2018)
Spring Sonata for flute and piano op. 147 (2018)
Spring Sonata for flute and string orchestra op. 147b (2018)
Sonata No. 4 for violin and piano (In Anlehnung an Brahms) op. 148 (2018)
De la douceur (Two Verlaine Songs for two sopranos and piano) op. 149 (2018–19) Commission of the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society with support from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage
Ophelia's Tears (Concertante Elegy for Bass-Clarinet and orchestra) op. 150 (2019) Commissioned by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association Riccardo Muti, Zell Music Director (Made possible through the generous support of Helen Zell) (For Lawrie Bloom and to the memory of Oliver Knussen)
Notturno ed Allegro (Piano Trio No. 6) for two violins and piano or violin (or flute), violoncello (or clarinet, or viola)and piano, op. 151 (2019)
Notturno ed Allegro for piano, violin, cello, clarinet and horn, op. 151b (2019)
Notturno ed Allegro for piano, violin, viola and cello, op. 151c (2019)
2020s
Concerto breve for clarinet and string quartet (or string orchestra), op. 152 (2019–20)
String Quartet No. 11 "Quartetto Serioso in Omaggio a Beethoven", op. 153 (2019–20)
Amor Vincit Omnia (Deux Motets op. 154 no. 1 & 2) for a cappella mixed chorus, (2020)
Amor Vincit Omnia (Motet op. 154 no. 2) version for a cappella female chorus, (2020)
String Trio, for violin, viola and cello, op. 155 (2020)
Sonata No. 3 for flûte and piano, op. 156 (2020)
Pastoral Meditation, for flûte, viola and harp, op. 157 (2020)
Prelude and toccata, for clarinet and piano, op. 158 (2020)
The Four temperaments (Four Preludes and fugues for piano, op. 159) (2020–21)
Nicolas Bacri – Sturm und Drang Concerto amoroso Le printemps for oboe, violin and string orchestra, Op.80; Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, Op.63; Concerto nostalgico L'automne for oboe, cello and string orchestra, Op.80 No.1; Nocturne for cello and string orchestra, Op.90; Symphony No.4 Sturm und Drang, Op.49. Tapiola Sinfonietta conducted by Jean-Jacques Kantorow. BIS Records CD-1579, released 2009.[9]
Nicolas Bacri – Piano Music (Reyes) – Piano Sonata No. 2 / Diletto classico / Prelude et Fugue / L'Enfance de l'art. Eliane Reyes (pianist). Naxos Records 8.572530, released 2011
Zodiac Trio – Nicolas Bacri, "A Smiling Suite" (2007). Kliment Krylovskiy (clarinet), Vanessa Mollard (violin), Riko Higuma (piano). Recorded for the Blue Griffin Recording (BG 257) and released in 2012
Nicolas Bacri – "LES QUATRE SAISONS" François Leleux (oboe), Valeryi Sokolov (violin), Adrien La Marca (viola), Sebastien Van Kuijk (cello), Orchestre Victor Hugo-Franche-Comté/Jean-François Verdier. Recorded for Klarthe and released in 2016 : http://www.klarthe.com/index.php/fr/enregistrements/les-quatre-saisons-detail
Mysteries - Sabine Weyer – Nicolas Bacri, Piano Sonate No. 2 op. 105, Piano Sonata No. 3 op. 122 "Impetuosa", Fantasy op. 134, recorded for ARS Produktion, and released in 2021
Brahms aujourd'hui - Agnès Pyka/Laurent Wagschal – Nicolas Bacri, Sonata No. 4 "in Anlehnung an Brahms" op. 148, for violin and piano, recorded for Klarthe
References
^Pernon, Gérard (ed.), "Bacri, Nicolas", Dictionnaire de la musique 5th edition, Editions Jean-Paul Gisserot, 2007, p.16. ISBN2-87747-918-8
