Battmann, a prolific French composer, crafts a virtuosic retelling of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. The work is marked by its dramatic use of the keyboard to replicate the tension of the operatic scene.
At Henle 4 this is an intermediate piece that expects secure technique and real attention to phrasing. The main demands: sweeping arpeggio figures that must stay smooth across positions; octave passages that demand a relaxed wrist to avoid tension; and a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment.
Beyond that, expect ornaments that need to sound effortless, not squeezed in.
Large-span arpeggios and octave passages necessitate a relaxed wrist and accurate navigation of the keyboard.
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 élégante sur 'Lucie de Lammermoor' (Op.376) is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 8.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 4 — meaning you can already play level 3–4 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 élégante sur 'Lucie de Lammermoor' (Op.376) lasts about 6 minutes.
Fantaisie élégante sur 'Lucie de Lammermoor' (Op.376) 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 de Mozart by Jacques-Louis Battmann, Basquaise by Jacques-Louis Battmann, Fantaisie brillante sur 'Les géorgiennes' by Jacques-Louis Battmann — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.