Tempo rubato (UK: /ˈtɛmpoʊ rʊˈbɑːtoʊ/, US: /ruː-/,[1][2] Italian: [ˈtɛmpo ruˈbaːto]; "free in the presentation", literally Italian for '"stolen time"') is a musical term referring to expressive and rhythmic freedom by a slight speeding up and then slowing down of the tempo of a piece at the discretion of the soloist or the conductor. Rubato is an expressive shaping of music that is a part of phrasing.[3]
