ABSTRACT
Ernst's talent and agreeable personality allowed him to make friends and establish important musical contacts quickly. Seeing his friend was short of money and prospects, he tried to help Bull by introducing him to his own circle, but the Norwegian was not an easy character to assist. Ernst became known as 'the chopin of the violin' and there are a number of reasons for this. There were certain physical and emotional similarities since both were small, slightly-built men with a striking pallor, who were both prey to frequent bouts of illness, depression and melancholy. Musically, both were profoundly influenced by the Bel Canto style of contemporary italian opera. Ernst became known as 'the chopin of the violin' and there are a number of reasons for this. Both Liszt and Ernst were profoundly influenced by Paganini, and had a similar attitude to audiences.
