The cello concerto in A minor composed by R. Schumann in 1850 was the first cello concerto of the Romantic Period. Since its metronome marks and the orchestration were questioned frequently, this thesis will concentrate on these matters, and then elaborate on the related interpretative issues. This paper is divided into four chapters; firstly, we briefly describe the publication process of the concerto and the early reception to its performance, before we inquire into the possible causes of the above disputes; secondly, starting with Schumann’s tempo and metronome marks and form analysis, we considerate concrete performance issues with reference to relevant recordings; third, we study the emotional alteration in this piece by means of the orchestration and the interaction between the soloist and the orchestra, then provide an appropriate interpretation; finally, we make a summary of the whole thesis.