The creation of this piano concerto occupied Johannes Brahms for at least five years. After beginning it as a two-piano sonata in 1854, he soon realized that the musical material required orchestral inclusion. Following this wise decision Brahms recast the opening as the first movement of a piano concerto
The other movements of the original sonata were discarded. A new finale was completed in late 1856, followed by the radiant slow movement, but the composer continued to make other adjustments up to and even beyond the first performances of the Concerto in January 1859.
The Piano Concerto #1 became a staple in the concerto literature, and we can be grateful for that! Here is pianist Yuja Wang to ply it for you:
