The Symphony & the Concerto

     While these experiments in programme music were taking place, however, some of the more conservative composers still continued to compose classical symphonies and concertos.  Schumann wrote 4 symphonies, which just miss greatness because he was not a very good orchestrator and found large forms more difficult to manage than small ones. But his piano concerto is one of the most popular in the present-day repertoire, and his cello concerto is played quite frequently.  

    Mendelssohn wrote 5 symphonies, in addition to a number of youthful ones, which have not been published.  The best known are the 'Scottish' and the 'Italian'.  But in spite of their titles they have very little "programme" and are in classical forms.  He also wrote 2 piano concertos, which are played occasionally, and a violin concerto which is extremely popular.  

    Chopin and Liszt each wrote 2 piano concertos, but Chopin was not a good orchestrator, and Liszt's concertos are brilliant rather than profound, so none of them are really great works, though they are still occasionally heard.