Blumenfeld’s Etude Op. 24 is a cornerstone of the Russian Romantic repertoire, showcasing intense emotional depth and virtuosic demands. The work requires a sophisticated sense of rubato and the ability to project a singing tone amidst stormy passagework.
At Henle 7 this is a late-advanced work — the technical demands are serious and sustained. The main demands: fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo; fine finger independence within the hand; and rubato that must breathe naturally without losing the pulse.
Beyond that, expect a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment, and sharp dynamic and character contrasts held together in one arc.
Achieving seamless integration between the dramatic flourishes and the deeply expressive melodic moments is essential.
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.
Etude de Concert (Op.24) 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 10.
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 Etude de Concert (Op.24) lasts about 4 minutes.
Etude de Concert (Op.24) 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 de concert by Felix Blumenfeld, Ballade in the Form of Variations by Felix Blumenfeld, Etude for the Left-Hand by Felix Blumenfeld — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.