Based on Maillart's comic opera, this fantasy captures the wit and charm of the original through lighthearted, agile keyboard textures. It is musically distinctive for its rapid-fire ornamentation and light, salon-style bravura.
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; a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment; and ornaments that need to sound effortless, not squeezed in.
Beyond that, expect chord voicing — bringing out one note inside a handful of others.
Pay close attention to the light, precise touch needed for the quick melodic turns and the maintenance of a crisp, transparent texture.
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 'Le Maitre de Chapelle' (Op.218) 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 Fantaisie Brillante sur 'Le Maitre de Chapelle' (Op.218) lasts about 6 minutes.
Fantaisie Brillante sur 'Le Maitre de Chapelle' (Op.218) 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 sur 'Le nozze de Figaro' by Ignace Xavier Joseph Leybach, Fantaisie brillante sur 'Le astuzie femminili' by Ignace Xavier Joseph Leybach, Fantaisie Brillante sur 'Lakmé' by Ignace Xavier Joseph Leybach — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.