Bovy-Lysberg was a student of Chopin, and his writing often reflects the virtuosic flair of that circle. This piece features technical flourishes designed to impress in a salon setting.
At Henle 5 this is a late-intermediate piece — technically substantial, with musical demands to match. The main demands: fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo; sweeping arpeggio figures that must stay smooth across positions; and octave passages that demand a relaxed wrist to avoid tension.
Maintain clarity and control during the rapid octave-runs and virtuosic passages.
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.
Lesser-known works by the same hand, at a comparable level.
Divertissement brillant (Op.23) is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 5 — meaning you can already play level 4–5 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 Divertissement brillant (Op.23) lasts about 6 minutes.
Divertissement brillant (Op.23) 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 Don Juan op.79 by Charles Samuel Bovy-Lysberg, Der sterbende Dichter by Charles Samuel Bovy-Lysberg, Berceuse by Charles Samuel Bovy-Lysberg — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.