Ian Hobson, the pianist and conductor on this album, won First Prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition in 1981 and has amassed a discography of some sixty releases.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Despite Romanticism's preference for minor keys, Ernst intentionally wrote all his Polyphonic Studies, including variations, in major keys.
Compositional Technique
Ernst's Six Polyphonic Studies are considered the most significant solo violin composition between Paganini's Caprices and Ysaÿe's Sonates.
Composer Biography
Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst, a prominent 19th-century violin virtuoso, began learning the violin at age nine and quickly advanced to the Vienna Conservatoire.
Composition History
Ernst's Polyphonic Studies, subtitled 'Greetings to Friends and Brothers in Art,' were written when he was sick and isolated, as a way to ensure he was remembered by prominent virtuosi and their audiences.
Composer Biography
Ernst's career was significantly influenced by Paganini's Viennese concerts in 1828, inspiring him to embark on a solo tour and even compete with Paganini.
Performer Biography
Sherban Lupu, the violinist on this recording, has received numerous international awards, including a lifetime achievement award from the Romanian Cultural Foundation and the title of Commander of the National Order of Merit and Service from the President of Romania.
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