HEINRICH WILHELM ERNST (1814–1865)

Violin Music

 

1 Fantaisie brillante sur la Marche et la Romance d’Otello de G. Rossini Op 11 violin & piano [14'33]

Sechs mehrstimmige Etüden solo violin [29'07]

2 I Rondino scherzo: Con spirito [4'59]

3 II Allegretto: Con grazia [2'01]

4 III Terzetto: Allegro moderato e tranquillo [7'00]

5 IV Allegro risoluto [2'50]

6 V Air de Ballet: Allegretto con giusto [3'02]

7 VI Die letzte Rose (Variations on ‘The Last Rose of Summer’) Introduction: Moderato – Theme: Andante non troppo [2'25]

8 Variation I [1'22]

9 Variation II [1'52]

10 Variation III [0'46]

11 Variation IV: Poco più vivo [0'52]

12 Finale [1'49]

13 Élégie sur la mort d’un objet chéri Op 10 violin & piano [7'53]

14 Erlkönig: Grand Caprice pour violon seul sur ‘Le Roi des Aulnes’ de F. Schubert Op 26 solo violin [4'12]

 

Total Duration: 55'51

Ilya Gringolts - violin, with Ashley Wass - piano

 

As virtuoso violinist, the Moravian Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst was a legend in his own lifetime. He died before the era of sound-recording, and his personal wizardry and magnetism can only dimly be recaptured in the written testimony of his contemporaries. Yet to a significant extent it lives on in his own works for his instrument: for he was a composer who significantly extended the boundaries and meaning of bravura technique. Unfortunately Ernst has long been the preserve of violin specialists only—unjustly, considering his quality as a musical thinker. As a composer Ernst combined the reckless virtuosity of Paganini and Liszt with a sure instinct for musical substance, putting transcendent violin technique at the service of something more than mere display.

 

The brilliant Russian violinist Ilya Gringolts, acclaimed for his technical brilliance and inspired interpretations of a range of repertoire, is the ideal performer of these dazzlingly difficult works. He has made many distinguished recordings for Deutsche Grammophon and BIS; this is his first recording for Hyperion. He is partnered by fellow former BBC New Generation Artist Ashley Wass.

 

Hyperion CDA67619