Edvard Grieg
(1843-1907)

Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16

Composed 1868

Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor, written in 1868, remains his most celebrated orchestral work. Composed at age 25 during a peaceful summer in Søllerød, Denmark, the concerto reflects a particularly joyful chapter in Grieg’s life. He had recently married his cousin, Nina, and the couple had just welcomed their daughter, Alexandra. Although Alexandra tragically died in infancy, the period of her birth was filled with warmth and creative energy for the composer.

Grieg was deeply influenced by Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto, not only in key and structure, but in character. Grieg had attended a performance by Clara Schumann while studying at the Leipzig Conservatory, an experience that left a lasting impression. Still, Grieg’s concerto is uniquely his own, marked by its infusion of Norwegian folk elements and melodic inventiveness.

The concerto opens with a dramatic timpani roll and sweeping piano flourish—one of the most famous openings in classical music. The first movement alternates between virtuosic passages and lyrical themes, including a second subject introduced by the cellos with gentle warmth. Franz Liszt, after playing through the concerto in Rome, enthusiastically endorsed it and encouraged Grieg to continue on his creative path.

The second movement adagio opens with muted strings and is often associated with the tenderness Grieg may have felt toward his newborn daughter. The piano responds with elegant, heartfelt lines, gradually building to a serene climax.

The finale bursts forth with the spirited rhythm of the halling, a Norwegian folk dance. A contrasting lyrical theme, introduced by solo flute, returns triumphantly at the end, now transformed into a sweeping, orchestral conclusion.

Grieg revised the concerto throughout his life, with the final version completed shortly before his death. Today, it remains a beloved staple of the concert repertoire—praised for its blend of virtuosic drama, national character, and emotional depth.

Instrumentation – two flutes and piccolo, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, timpani, strings, and solo piano

Duration – 30 minutes

~ Kenneth Bean
Georg and Joyce Albers-Schonberg Assistant Conductor
Princeton Symphony Orchestra