This arrangement of Rossini's Sémiramide highlights the grand scale of the opera through bravura piano writing. It combines soaring melodic lines with complex technical display.
At Henle 6 this is an advanced piece that assumes fluent technique and rewards mature interpretation. The main demands: fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo; sweeping arpeggio figures that must stay smooth across positions; and ornaments that need to sound effortless, not squeezed in.
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.
At roughly 8 minutes, stamina and memory become part of the challenge — plan practice in sections.
Developing the stamina and agility required for the rapid-fire ornamentation is the key challenge.
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 'Sémiramide' (Op.95) 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 'Sémiramide' (Op.95) lasts about 8 minutes.
Fantaisie Brillante sur 'Sémiramide' (Op.95) 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 'La fille du tambour-major' by Ignace Xavier Joseph Leybach, Fantaisie brillante sur 'Don Juan' by Ignace Xavier Joseph Leybach, Fantaisie Brillante sur 'Le Chant du Bivouac' by Ignace Xavier Joseph Leybach — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.