Challenge of playing a piano concerto while conducting the orchestra from the piano

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Rehearsals are going on full speed for the concert with NYKO Sinfonietta on Sunday 9 February (www.nykosinfonietta.se).  This is my second attempt at playing a piano concerto while trying to somehow conduct or direct from the piano.  Obviously there is no extra conductor on the podium, and the orchestra carries a bigger responsibility of knowing the music better and listening to each other better.  The first time I and NYKO Sinfonietta did this was with Mozart's piano concerto no.21.  It was truly a beautiful, rewarding and most satisfying experience.  I sure had the most fun time in the world playing this concerto with my friends of NYKO Sinfonietta, of whom I hold utmost respect and admiration.  It was a humbling experience and we reached a new artistic milestone.  

We are trying this time with a romantic piano concerto of my favorite composer, Robert Schumann, his Introduction and Allegro appassionato op.92.  Schumann in my opinion is the ultimate romantic composer.  His language speaks directly to my heart, and his temperament is most similar to mine.  His music feels almost like a mother-tongue to me.  He wrote several one-movement piano concertos that aren't played as often as his most famous three-movement piano concerto in A minor.  I think that's a shame as i think the Introduction and Allegro appassionato in particular embodies the essence of Schumann-ness.  The biggest challenge for me is head-banging during the Introduction to keep the orchestra together as this physical motion makes me dizzy and nauseous.  I have told this to the orchestra, and we simply have to find another way to synchronize our heartbeats.  And I think I can still physically show the pulse through my body without constantly moving my head up and down.  I will see how it goes at the next rehearsal!