Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst: Othello Fantasy Op. 11, Six Polyphonic Studies for Violin Solo, Elegy Op. 10, Erlkoenig - Ilya Gringolts, Ashley Wass (2006)

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Ilya Gringolts (more info at: http://www.imgartists.com/?page=artist&id=204) plays the 1723 Stradivarius "ex-Kiesewetter".

Reviews

Gramophone
Gramophone Editor's Choice Ernst April 2008


Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst (1814-65), follower and emulator of Paganini, wrote music that’s every bit as demanding and technically spectacular as his mentor’s, but with a very different character. Where the violin of Paganini sings in bold primary colours, Ernst is more ready to explore subtle tones, and this is true even when he turns to Italy for inspiration, in the Othello Fantasy. Ilya Gringolts has the measure of both the virtuosity and the romantic sensibility – his performance of the fantasy is quite outstanding. Unlike Ilya Grubert (Naxos) he doesn’t need to slow down for any of the brilliant variations on the March theme, and plays the lyrical passages with an intense commitment that’s reminiscent of Heifetz.

His imaginative grasp of the music’s expressive character makes for a gripping account of the Elegy (performed complete with its powerful introductory recitative) and the unaccompanied items fare just as well. In the extraordinary transcription of Schubert’s Erlkönig, Gringolts’s playing does have a few rough edges which Leila Josefowicz (Philips, 2/97 –nla) managed to avoid, but he introduces a wider range of tone and expression, and makes the piece seem much more spine-chilling.

The highlight of the disc, however, is surely the Six Studies. One might quarrel with a few details of interpretation – is the Fifth Study a touch too fast? Could the theme for the variations on ‘The Last Rose of Summer’ have been phrased more simply? – but Gringolts’s technical command, beautiful intonation and exciting, deep involvement with the music make for a great listening experience.

Duncan Druce