Introduction and Allegro appassionato (Schumann)

For the Introduction and Concert Allegro in D minor (Op. 134), see Introduction and Concert Allegro (Schumann).

The Introduction and Allegro appassionato (Konzertstück) for piano and orchestra in G major, Op. 92, was composed by Robert Schumann in September 1849. It received its first performance in Leipzig on February 14, 1850, with Clara Schumann at the piano with Julius Rietz conducting.^[1] The work was published in 1852. The work takes around 15 minutes to perform.^[2]

Scoring

The Introduction and Allegro appassionato is scored for solo piano, pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets in B♭, bassoons, horns, trumpets and timpani, and strings.

Structure

The work consists of two movements:

1. Introduction. Langsam

   

2. Allegro

   

Notable recordings

• Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano and conductor), London Symphony Orchestra
• Daniel Barenboim (piano), London Philharmonic Orchestra and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
• Murray Perahia (piano), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Claudio Abbado
• Sviatoslav Richter (piano), Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra and Stanislaw Wislocki
• András Schiff (piano), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Christoph von Dohnányi
• Rudolf Serkin (piano), Philadelphia Orchestra and Eugene Ormandy