Aho’s second piano concerto is scored for a string orchestra comprising just twenty players. The demanding piano writing is honouring the ‘Beethovenian-Lisztian-Brahmsian’ pianistic tradition. At times the piano part is lean and linear, but the work also contains multi-layered, full-toned piano textures and massive rolling octaves. The concerto requires great artistry on the part of the performer. The 30-minute concerto comprises 3 untitled movements played without a break.