A Concerto Is...

...a piece written for a soloist with orchestral background. In a concerto, the soloist does not merely perform to the accompaniment of an orchestra. He/she has many dialogue-like interactions with the orchestra, where they listen to each other's parts and create the musical piece together. This "concerting" aspect of the piece allows people to enjoy the harmony of the ensemble and the skill of the soloist at the same time.

Thinking back on times when concertos were popular, there were many musicians that possessed brilliant technique and a grand sense of performance. Striving for music in which soloists could exhibit their virtuosity and high levels of technique, the concerto style was developed.

Famous are the violin concertos by Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Tchaikovsky, often called the three grand concertos. Some concertos have also been given nicknames, such as Emperor-the piano concerto by Beethoven.