Allegro moderato

G major. 4/4 time. Although it follows the concerto-sonata form, the opening first theme is innovatively played by the solo piano. This simple theme, which begins with repeated B notes, is often noted for its connection to the Fate motif, partly because the sketches for this concerto were written immediately after the first page of sketches for Symphony No. 5 "Fate". Furthermore, this theme is immediately played by the orchestra in B major, a key a third away. This preference for keys a third apart is consistently observed throughout Beethoven's piano concertos and can be seen as a departure from classical norms based on dominant or relative keys. Including the cadenzas composed by Beethoven, the entire work is interspersed with virtuosic pianistic passages, providing numerous opportunities for the pianist to showcase their brilliance, while the sweet and long-breathed secondary themes and interplay with the orchestra highlight the work's lyricism.