This concert étude functions as a virtuosic showcase, typical of late Romantic piano literature. It is characterized by rapid figurations that test the performer's facility and stamina.
At Henle 6 this is an advanced piece that assumes fluent technique and rewards mature interpretation. The main demands: fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo; sweeping arpeggio figures that must stay smooth across positions; and fine finger independence within the hand.
Beyond that, expect a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment.
Developing the stamina required to execute the rapid arpeggiation patterns evenly is the main technical hurdle.
Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.
A level or two down with the same spirit — ideal if this piece is still out of reach.
Where this piece's skills lead: slightly harder works making similar technical demands.
Concert Étude (Op.20) 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 Concert Étude (Op.20) lasts about 5 minutes.
Concert Étude (Op.20) 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 Allegro di bravura by Franz Liszt, Bohemian Dance by Rudolf Friml, Bilder aus Ungarn by Xaver Scharwenka — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.