Charles-Valentin Alkan's '2 Petites pièces' Op.60 are unjustly neglected works that showcase his formidable pianistic technique and unique musical voice. These studies are demanding, filled with dramatic contrasts and virtuosic writing.
Developing exceptional left-hand independence and control over octave runs and large chords is paramount for tackling these challenging studies.
2 Petites pièces (Op.60) is rated Henle level 7 of 9 — late advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grade 8 and above. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 9.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 7 — meaning you can already play level 6–7 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 Petites pièces (Op.60) lasts about 4.5 minutes.
2 Petites pièces (Op.60) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.