The cello established itself in the emerging forms of chamber music from around 1770. It has been a regular feature in string quartets, piano trios, and related ensembles ever since. Although prominent 19th-century composers primarily focused on the violin and piano as concert instruments, several compositions for cello and orchestra were written that remain firmly established in the concert repertoire today.
The cello's golden age as a solo instrument began in the mid-19th century, following its last major structural modifications. These improvements enabled fast and precise playing with great projection. At the same time, the cello, with its sound closely resembling the human voice in range and expressiveness, perfectly embodied the artistic ideals of the era.
Robert Schumann was at the height of his career in the autumn of 1850 when he was appointed Municipal Music Director in Düsseldorf, where he received an enthusiastic welcome. Immediately upon his arrival, he composed his first and only cello concerto. Schumann wrote the work exceptionally quickly: from October 10 to 16, 1850, he worked on the draft, and the instrumentation was already completed by October 24. On November 1, he refined a few details. The following spring, he prepared a piano reduction.
Strictly speaking, the cello concerto never had a proper premiere. The first performance took place rather discreetly—almost four years after Schumann's death, on April 23, 1860, in Oldenburg. Ludwig Ebert played the solo part, while the Grand Ducal Orchestra of Oldenburg performed under the direction of concertmaster Karl Franzen. Apparently, both the cellist and the orchestra had difficulties with the piece. One critic, however, praised the work as a "very valuable addition."