This work features Thalberg's typical virtuosic treatment of Russian folk themes through elaborate ornamentation. It is a prime example of the operatic transcription style popular in the mid-19th century.
Master the art of balancing the cantabile melody against complex, surrounding figurations.
Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.
2 Airs russes variés (Op.17) is rated Henle level 6 of 9 — advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 7–8. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 8.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 6 — meaning you can already play level 5–6 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.
A typical performance of 2 Airs russes variés (Op.17) lasts about 8 minutes.
2 Airs russes variés (Op.17) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.
Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Berceuse by Sigismond Thalberg, Andante final de 'Lucia di Lammermoor' by Sigismond Thalberg, Andante final from Donizetti's 'Lucia de Lammermoor' Op.44 by Sigismond Thalberg — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.