This is a high-octane virtuoso work by Alexander Dreyschock, known for his incredible left-hand facility. The music is characterized by grand, sweeping gestures and intense technical demands.
At Henle 8 this is concert repertoire: professional-level technique is the entry ticket. The main demands: fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo; octave passages that demand a relaxed wrist to avoid tension; and big chords that need weight without harshness.
Beyond that, expect sharp dynamic and character contrasts held together in one arc.
At roughly 10 minutes, stamina and memory become part of the challenge — plan practice in sections.
The piece requires immense stamina and the ability to project thunderous octave-runs without losing rhythmic control.
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.
Fantaisie (Op.31) is rated Henle level 8 of 9 — concert repertoire, roughly diploma level. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 10.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 8 — meaning you can already play level 7–8 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 (Op.31) lasts about 10 minutes.
Fantaisie (Op.31) 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 Polonaise in A-flat major by Frédéric Chopin, Edition of Liszt's Réminiscences de Don Juan (S.418), BV B 71 by Ferruccio Busoni, Rhapsodie espagnole by Franz Liszt — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.