Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst (1812–65) was one of the leading musicians of his day: a friend of Berlioz, Chopin, Liszt and Mendelssohn, and for Joseph Joachim ‘the greatest violinist I ever heard’.
Born in a middle-class Jewish family from Brünn in the Austrian Empire (now Brno in the Czech Republic), he studied at the Vienna Conservatory and quickly made a name for himself as a virtuoso, astounding even Paganini with his skill and later becoming his most significant rival.
He began to compose when a debilitating illness – most likely porphyria – started to affect his playing, and he spent his last years desperately seeking a cure, in increasing poverty and supported by public benefit concerts given for him by Brahms, Joachim, Wieniawski and others of his friends.
His output includes numerous popular encore pieces that he played in his concerts around Europe. But these represent only a fraction of his work. This series of six CDs presents his complete violin works for the first time, revealing one of the instrument’s most accomplished and memorable composers.
This first disc shows him in a range of moods, from the mystery and grandeur of the Prophet Fantasy and the Chopinesque poetry of the Two Nocturnes to the bizarre whimsy of The Carnival of Venice and infectious high spirits of the Rondo Papageno – the nineteenth-century virtuoso violin both in introspective melancholy and at its most dazzlingly flamboyant.
Fantaisie Brillante Sur Le Prophète (Opéra De G. Meyerbeer), Op. 24 (I. Allegretto Molto Moderato)
Fantaisie Brillante Sur Le Prophète (Opéra De G. Meyerbeer), Op. 24 (II. Andantino Pastorale)
Deux Nocturnes, Op. 8: No. 2 In E Major
Deux Nocturnes, Op. 8: No. 1 In A Major
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Theme
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation I
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation II
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation III
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation IV
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation V
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation VI
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation VII
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation VIII
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation IX
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation X
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation XI
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation XII
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation Xiii
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation XIV
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation XV
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation XVI
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation XVIi
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation XVIII
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation XIX
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation XX
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation XXI
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation Xxii
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation Xxiii
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation Xxiv
Carnaval De Venise (Variations Burlesques Sur La Canzonetta 'Cara Mamma Mia'), Op. 18: Variation XXV
Deux Morceaux De Salon, Op. 13: No. 1, Adagio Sentimentale
Deux Morceaux De Salon, Op. 13: No. 2, Rondino Grazioso
Thème Allemand Varié, Op. 9: Introduction
Thème Allemand Varié, Op. 9: Theme
Thème Allemand Varié, Op. 9: Variation I
Thème Allemand Varié, Op. 9: Variation II
Thème Allemand Varié, Op. 9: Variation III
Thème Allemand Varié, Op. 9: Variation IV And Moderato
Thème Allemand Varié, Op. 9: Variation V
Rondo Allemand Pour Piano Et Violon Sur Des Thèmes d'Oberon, Op. 23 (I. Introduzione: Andante)
Rondo Allemand Pour Piano Et Violon Sur Des Thèmes d'Oberon, Op. 23 (II. Rondo: Allegro Moderato)
Rondo Allemand Pour Piano Et Violon Sur Des Thèmes d'Oberon, Op. 23 (III. Final: Presto)
Rondo Papageno, Op. 20
Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst: 2 Nocturnes, Op. 8
No. 1. in A major
No. 2. in E major
Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst: Le Carnaval de Venise, Op. 18, "Variations burlesques sur la canzonetta Cara mia mamma"
Theme
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7
Variation 8
Variation 9
Variation 10
Variation 11
Variation 12
Variation 13
Variation 14
Variation 15
Variation 16
Variation 17
Variation 18
Variation 19
Variation 20
Variation 21
Variation 22
Variation 23
Variation 24
Variation 25
Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst: 2 Morceaux de Salon, Op. 13
No. 1. Adagio sentimental
No. 2. Rondino
Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst: Theme Allemande Varie, Op. 9
Introduction
Theme
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4: Moderato
Variation 5
Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst: Rondo Allemand sur des themes d'Oberon, Op. 23
I. Introduzione: Andante
II. Rondo: Allegro moderato
III. Final: Presto
Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst: Rondo Papageno in B flat major, Op. 20
Rondo Papageno in B flat major, Op. 20
April 2011
“Lupu, deftly and flamboyantly accompanied by Ian Hobson, astonishes and bewitches in equal measure...This is a hugely entertaining disc.”
May 2011
“in the hands of Lupu and Hobson [The Prophet Fantasy] assumes a depth and seriousness not normally expected of the genre. Lupu's technical control, secure intonation and ready assimilation of the music's romantic ethos will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout...It's good to rediscover gems like the 1837 Carnaval de Venise variations...Lupu's account is at once completely assured and fully alive to every expressive possibility this music affords”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
Fantaisie Brillante Sur Le Prophète (Opéra De G. Meyerbeer), Op. 24 (I. Allegretto Molto Moderato)
