Ernst · Music for Violin & Orchestra

Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst was in his day considered by no less an authority than Joseph Joachim to be the greatest living violinist, although he is now almost forgotten. He was compared favourably with Paganini, whose style he emulated and with whom he played in concert, and for most of his adult life gave concerts all over Europe, playing his own and other virtuoso concertos and chamber music. The award-winning soloist on this recording, Ilya Grubert, plays a 1740 Guarnieri violin once owned by Henryk Wieniawski.

Ernst’s violin music is virtuosically written, as might be expected from a famous violinist. It does not have the individual profile the music by Wieniawski and Vieuxtemps (similar 19th-century virtuosos) has, but it is far from unpleasant listening, especially when as well played as it is by Ilya Grubert, with Dmitry Yablonsky leading the Russian Philharmonic. Major works are the Concerto in F-sharp minor, the even longer Concertino in D. --Paul Turok, Turok’s Choice, June 2007

MP3 320 · 150 MB