Thalberg: Piano Concerto in F minor / Souvenirs de beethoven

Thalberg's Piano Concerto in F minor, Opus 5 is a relatively early work. The first movement opens with the expected orchestral exposition, presenting two contrasting subjects, before the entry of the soloist with an elaboration of the material. There is much scope for virtuosity in what follows, in particular in a demanding and varied cadenza. There is a brief orchestral introduction to the Adagio, with continued suggestions that the music comes from a period when Chopin too was starting to make a name for himself, although Thalberg is said to have found the latter's relatively subdued nuances too underplayed. There is here, however, a similar use of embellished operatic melody. The soloist offers immediate contrast in the mood of the principal theme of the final Rondo, with its varying episodes.