Charles Voss was a master of the operatic transcription, frequently performed in 19th-century drawing rooms. This fantasy incorporates Verdi's dramatic melodies into a structure designed to test a pianist's versatility across varied emotional states.
At Henle 6 this is an advanced piece that assumes fluent technique and rewards mature interpretation. The main demands: sweeping arpeggio figures that must stay smooth across positions; ornaments that need to sound effortless, not squeezed in; 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 several simultaneous layers, each needing its own dynamic level.
Students must learn to layer the melody clearly within complex accompaniment figures while maintaining a consistent dramatic arc.
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.
Fantaisie brillante sur 'I Lombardi' (Op.115) 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 Fantaisie brillante sur 'I Lombardi' (Op.115) lasts about 7 minutes.
Fantaisie brillante sur 'I Lombardi' (Op.115) 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 Fantaisie brillante 'Le Freischütz' by Charles Voss, Fantaisie brillante 'Les Huguenots' by Charles Voss, Fantaisie brillante 'I Lombardi' by Charles Voss — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.