Beethoven's five concertos for piano, his Violin Concerto, and his Triple Concerto rank among the most famous and beloved works in the concert literature. The composer regarded the piano concertos, which he customarily premiered himself, as very personal vehicles for conveying his musical thought and performance style. In this book, the first full-length study of Beethoven's concertos, Leon Plantinga brings to bear his extensive scholarship in music of the Romantic era to establish the circumstances surrounding the composition and first performances of these enduring works. He locates them in their social and musical contexts and discusses the form, style, and affect of each concerto, searching out its eloquent individuality. Finally, Plantinga looks at the vexing questions surrounding the performance of this repertory today.