This is the first movement of Tchaikovsky's Piano Sonata No. 1 in C-sharp minor, despite the erroneous B-flat major key. It is characterized by its powerful, virtuosic passagework and contrasting lyrical themes, showcasing Tchaikovsky's dramatic flair.
Developing the rapid scales and arpeggios with clarity and evenness is a primary technical focus.
Allegro vivace in B-flat major 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 Allegro vivace in B-flat major lasts about 6 minutes.
Allegro vivace in B-flat major is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.