Performance
Con espressione
With expression.
What it means
Con espressione, Italian for “with expression,” calls for a particularly expressive, nuanced shaping of the music. It sets no fixed tempo, instead addressing phrasing, dynamic shading, and the performer's personal expression.
Musical use
The marking is often found with solo lines and lyrical themes and frequently combines with a tempo indication, as in Adagio con espressione. It should be distinguished from general markings such as dolce, which points more to a gentle tone quality, whereas con espressione calls more broadly for greater expressive freedom.
Performance practice
For con espressione, use dynamic shading, small tempo inflections, and clear phrasing deliberately to bring out the musical statement. Avoid an even, uninvolved delivery of the sound.