Polovinkin was a Soviet composer whose style often veered into experimentalism and dissonant tonal languages. This sonata is distinct for its angular melodic lines and sudden rhythmic shifts that break from traditional harmonic structures.
At Henle 7 this is a late-advanced work — the technical demands are serious and sustained. The main demands: sharp dynamic and character contrasts held together in one arc; precise articulation — the difference between crisp and blurred is the piece; and fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo.
At roughly 8 minutes, stamina and memory become part of the challenge — plan practice in sections.
The main difficulty lies in mastering the precise articulation required to clearly define the piece's complex and often jarring melodic contour.
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.
Dernière Sonate 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 Dernière Sonate lasts about 8 minutes.
Dernière Sonate 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 Danse by Leonid Polovinkin, Ballade No.2 by Frédéric Chopin, Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.