Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58, stands as one of the most profound departures from Classical tradition, marking a shift toward the lyrical and the introspective. Composed between 1805 and 1806, it famously breaks the "double exposition" mold by having the solo piano open the first movement alone with a soft, questioning theme, rather than waiting for a grand orchestral introduction. This sense of poetic innovation continues in the second movement, often interpreted as a musical dialogue between the stern, unison strings and the pleading, gentle responses of the piano - a contrast so stark it was famously compared by Franz Liszt to Orpheus taming the Furies.
The work demands a delicate balance of technical precision and immense sensitivity, as the writing moves away from the muscular virtuosity of the Emperor Concerto toward a more transparent, crystalline texture. Its finale, a vivacious Rondo, returns to a sense of rhythmic playfulness but maintains the sophisticated harmonic language established earlier. By prioritizing a seamless integration between soloist and orchestra, Op. 58 paved the way for the Romantic concerto, proving that power in music could be achieved through subtlety and narrative depth rather than volume alone.
This edition is a reissue of music originally published by G. Schirmer, New York.
