Chopin wrote only two piano concertos, both in the period 1829-30. In 1831, he began working on a third but soon abandoned it in favor of other, apparently less taxing projects. This Allegro de concert was originally planned to be a movement in that ill-fated concerto, but reached fruition only in 1841 when the composer revised it as a separate work. Chopin's decision to scrap plans for the concerto most likely owed something to his general unease with writing orchestral music—his last new work involving orchestra was the Grand Polonaise (1830-31). In any event, the Allegro de concert was probably better served in its solo piano dressing.

The work opens with a nonchalant, somewhat subdued theme that grows more lively and epic-sounding as it goes along, the music soon becoming utterly high-spirited and joyous. A second theme, lyrical and quite lovely, also starts off in a subdued vein but gradually grows bigger and prouder. One notices the concerto-like, or even sonata-like, qualities of the work as Chopin now begins developing his material, the mood turning more intense and passionate, themes transforming, ornamentation accruing to them.

Some of the faster music here clearly recalls the imaginative and colorful writing in parts of the first movement of the First Piano Concerto. After the recapitulation the piece ends with an attractive coda, though here is one instance where the music may have been better realized with orchestral accompaniment. In the central part of this work some listeners may find a certain episodic quality in the musical structure, but Chopin manages to impart a sense of color and excitement, especially in the buildup leading to the restatement of the main theme.

Much of the writing here stylistically resembles the music Chopin was composing around 1830, rather than that of a decade later, when he was revising this work. Thus, Chopin remained faithful to the original spirit of the Allegro de concert. A typical performance of this piece lasts from 12 to 14 minutes.

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