Edvard Grieg was pretty on top of things. He wrote an amazing piece of music when he wrote his Piano Concerto, Opus 16. The opening phrase of this song is the closest that any classical composer has come to painting a musical picture of getting punched in the face. A drum roll intensifies until the whole orchestra completely owns the same note in unison with intense staccato.

Then the piano and orchestra proceed to make beautiful, soaring, inspirational sounds that surprise at every turn.

By the end of the first movement (the version I listen to is 12:52 long), the audience has forgotten all about how large and in charge the beginning was. Therefore, Grieg has the intelligence to repeat the opening phrase without warning.

The opening and closing segments are like the two slices of bread on a juicy, delicious sandwich. Except the bread is kickin' tasty.

Grieg started writing a second piano concerto, but stopped, probably because he realized that he should quit while he was ahead. I seriously doubt he could have come up with a better one.