This D minor ballade showcases the composer's interest in narrative musical forms common in the late 19th century. Its distinctive quality lies in the sudden shift between restless, agitated sections and moments of introspection.
Achieving effective dramatic contrast while navigating the wide-span chordal passages is essential for a convincing performance.
Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.
Ballata No.4 in D minor is rated Henle level 7 of 9 — late advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grade 8 and above.
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 Ballata No.4 in D minor lasts about 6 minutes.
Ballata No.4 in D minor 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 Ballata No.1 in G minor by Marco Anzoletti, Ballata No.2 in B-flat minor by Marco Anzoletti, Allegro di Concerto in E major by Marco Anzoletti — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.