D minor, Un poco sostenuto

The first movement, written in sonata form, commences with a symphonic and majestic first theme, characterized by thick chords spanning two octaves, supported by a powerful tonic bass. The transition section effectively reuses the triplets contained within this theme, developing into a brilliant and pianistic passage. Following a passage where the tension gradually dissipates, it leads to the second theme in A minor. The solemn second theme, marked tranquillamente, also maintains a symphonic sound, played by octaves distributed between both hands. Subsequently, accompanied by a long crescendo, it repeatedly undergoes chromatic modulations, concluding the exposition by resounding the first theme loudly once more.

Development

The development section generally places emphasis on the development of the first theme, and it can be said that the development of the second theme forms the transition to the recapitulation. The dynamic development section, covering a very wide range, shows a further intensification from ff, building one of the movement's climaxes. Following this, with the indication Più mosso, it proceeds through a transition section based on the melody of the second theme, eventually reaching the recapitulation.

Recapitulation and Coda

The recapitulation proceeds largely faithfully to the exposition. After a short, virtuosic transition reminiscent of a cadenza, the music concludes majestically, resounding with a weighty coda primarily based on the first theme.