Piano Concerto No. 1 in E‑Flat Major

Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 had a long gestation. He completed a tentative draft in 1835 and revised it in 1839, but still didn’t feel it was ready for public performance. He returned to the concerto in the 1850s, finally giving its premiere in 1855. It was published, after further revision, in 1857. This is youthful Liszt, crafted with the skill and experience of a seasoned composer. That is to say, it is a virtuoso showcase for the pianist, full of dazzling athleticism and fervent poetry (and concise, at less than 20 minutes), but abounding in structural novelties and expressive innovation. The key is E flat major, the same as Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, which was a clear influence. The structure links four short sections as a single whole, with thematic bonds between them, the last three played without a break. The imposing opening “Allegro maestoso” leads to an almost operatic “Quasi adagio” in B major (the same key as the slow movement of the Emperor Concerto), complete with recitative-like passages. This links straight into the scherzo-like “Allegretto vivace”, where Liszt shines a spotlight on the triangle—a truly original touch in a concerto—before the final brusque march draws proceedings to a thrilling conclusion.