Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 28

The concerto has four movements, played without a break between them in many performances.

Cadenza e varianti: The piano opens alone with a bold, free-sounding passage, and then the orchestra answers with a set of variations built from the same ideas.

Scherzo allucinante: A fast, ghostly movement, light and nervous, with flickering notes flitting between piano and orchestra. Listen for quick, whispered figures.

Adagissimo: A very slow movement, quiet and still, with long held notes and a sense of space. It is the calm center of the piece.

Toccata concertata: The finale is a rapid, rhythmic dash where the piano is treated almost like a drum, with hammered notes that recall Argentine dance rhythms. Listen for the crashing close.

Alberto Ginastera was an Argentine composer who wrote this concerto in 1961, during the period when he used more modern, tightly organized techniques. It was one of his first big commissions to reach audiences outside Argentina. Pianists have found it a demanding showpiece ever since, with its fast, repeated notes and large leaps.