This is one of the great warhorses of the chamber repertory. In 1842, Robert Schumann wrote one great chamber piece after another, a truly miraculous year. Bob was happily married to Clara, one of the great pianists of her era, and this was intended for her hands. She made it one of her signature pieces, playing it all over Europe.
It opens in a quick 2/2 with a theme in block chords that defines the movement right up front. He uses a G-flat passage to lead into the second subject in B-flat set mainly for the cello. This performance repeats the exposition.
Development starts with a shift to E-flat minor with the piano doing most of the work.
The recapitulation is triumphant. The transitional passage permits the second subject to appear in the correct key of E-flat.
The coda goes like lightning for a bravura finish.