Nicolas Bacri (born in Paris in 1961), like many other composers of his generation, initially wrote within an atonal spectrum, culminating in his First Symphony (1983-84), dedicated to Elliott Carter. But by 1994 – to quote the otherwise incoherently translated note by Christoph Schlüren – ‘Bacri had exausted the potential of progressive modernism’.

Fortunately Une prière itself is entirely coherent, and worthy of its subtitle, ‘In memory of the Jewish Martyrs of all time’. It is a fine concertante piece which firmly establishes a traditional tonality at the start with a bold, timpani-accented tenuto orchestral chord. The violin soloist enters with an eloquently intense presentation of the lyrical Largo cantabile, which is immediately taken up by the orchestra. The work is elliptically structured, and the main theme undergoes various transmutations and decorations before finding resolution in the closing ‘Ricapitolazione’. These include a two-part Passacaglia, while the central, barbarous Scherzo frames a sombre threnody, touchingly played here, finally moving into a brief, radiant coda. Laurent Korcia is completely attuned to Bacri’s rhapsodic melodic lines and is powerfully accompanied by Semyon Bychkov and the excellent Cologne Radio Orchestra. The recording is full, well-balanced and rightly dominated by the soloist. As the composer does not over-extend his material, it was a happy idea to place this 23-minute piece alone on a bargain CD. It is worth hearing, especially if you respond to the characteristic intensity of Jewish music.