Polish piano concertos of the 19th and early 20th centuries are scarcely represented in the repertoire, with the exception of Chopin's two works from 1829/30. While Chopin stands as a lone beacon at the forefront of 19th-century music, other Polish composers of this period remain largely overlooked.
Chopin himself composed his Concerto in F minor, which, despite being numbered No. 2, was actually his first piano concerto, at just under 20 years old, shortly after completing his music studies. The inspiration for this work was his first great love, the opera singer Konstancja Gladkowska. The premiere on March 17, 1830, at the Warsaw National Theatre was a resounding success, playing to a sold-out audience and raising hopes for the promising career of the young composer.
Chopin himself composed his Concerto in F minor, which, despite being numbered No. 2, was actually his first piano concerto, at the age of almost 20, shortly after completing his music studies. During his performances in Vienna in July 1829, Chopin presented not only his Mozart Variations, Op. 2, but also the "Krakowiak, Grand Rondeau de Concert in F major," Op. 14. Critics praised his nuanced, virtuosic playing and the delicacy of his touch, but complained that he played too softly—a criticism that would later be leveled at him frequently. The novelty of his musical language was not always understood.
Fortunately, the autograph manuscript of the F minor concerto was saved during the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, while many other Chopin manuscripts were lost or destroyed in World War II.