In the early 1870s, Saint-Saëns showed a special fondness for the cello. The first cello sonata was completed in December 1872, immediately after the first cello concerto, and the Allegro appassionato for cello and piano, op. 43, was probably composed immediately afterwards and was also available in an orchestral version three years later. Details of the reason for the composition are not known, but it is obvious that Saint-Saëns wanted to deliver a “lighter” work for cello after the two heavyweight works, which is also ideally suited as an encore piece. David Geringas could be won over for the fingering and bowing of the brilliant cello part.