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’.

This is the fourth CD in a series of seven which will present all his compositions for the first time. It contains some of his most important compositions: an early Concertino with a melancholy slow movement and charming waltz finale; the fiendishly difficult Concerto that had a deep influence not only on Liszt’s Piano Sonata but also on concertos by Brahms and Sibelius; and the late String Quartet, with echoes of Beethoven and Mendelssohn and an inwardness, charm and energy all of its own.

Sherban Lupu, born in 1952, is the leading Romanian violinist of his generation. For Toccata Classics he has embarked on a complete recording of the works of Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst, and can also be heard in recordings of music by Enescu and Grigoriu.

Ian Hobson, who made his reputation as a pianist, is in increasing demand as a conductor. For Toccata Classics he has begun a six-CD series conducting the early orchestral music of Bohuslav Martinů.