Performance
Con fuoco
With fire, fiery.
What it means
Con fuoco, Italian for “with fire,” calls for a passionate, energetic delivery. The marking concerns mainly character and intensity rather than a fixed tempo, though it almost always appears attached to faster tempo markings.
Musical use
Con fuoco often appears as a qualifier to Allegro, as in Allegro con fuoco, marking particularly stormy, powerful movements or passages. It should be distinguished from con spirito, which points more to liveliness and spirit, whereas con fuoco aims more at force and inner agitation.
Performance practice
For con fuoco, use strong accents and a dense, driving sound, without losing control of precision and clarity. The energy should feel audible but not disordered.