What is the significance of "espressivo" (Espress.) in music performance?

The significance of "espressivo" (Espress.) in music performance is that it instructs the musician to play with expression. This term emphasizes the emotional quality and nuance in the music, encouraging performers to convey feelings and moods that resonate with the piece. Musicians interpret this directive to enhance the performance, adding dynamics, articulations, and phrasing that reflect the intended emotional depth of the music. This makes the performance not just technically proficient but also engaging and expressive for the audience.

The other options do not capture the essence of "espressivo." Playing slowly and softly, maintaining a steady pace, or performing rapidly focus on tempo or volume rather than the emotional expression that the term specifically calls for. Thus, while those elements may contribute to an expressive performance, they do not define what "espressivo" stands for in music notation.