This piece is a virtuosic operatic paraphrase based on themes from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. It exemplifies the 19th-century salon tradition of transcribing vocal arias into complex solo piano showpieces.
At Henle 6 this is an advanced piece that assumes fluent technique and rewards mature interpretation. The main demands: ornaments that need to sound effortless, not squeezed in; a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment; and fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo.
Beyond that, expect sweeping arpeggio figures that must stay smooth across positions, and chord voicing — bringing out one note inside a handful of others.
At roughly 8 minutes, stamina and memory become part of the challenge — plan practice in sections.
The primary challenge lies in mastering the rapid, delicate ornamentation required to mimic the bel canto vocal line while maintaining a clear, singing tone.
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 sur 'Lucie de Lamermoor' de Donizetti (Op.88) 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 sur 'Lucie de Lamermoor' de Donizetti (Op.88) lasts about 8 minutes.
Fantaisie sur 'Lucie de Lamermoor' de Donizetti (Op.88) 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 et variations brillantes sur l'air 'Di tanti palpiti' by Friedrich Wilhelm Kalkbrenner, Fantaisie brillante on Mozart's 'Don Juan' by Ignace Xavier Joseph Leybach, Fantaisie Brillante on 'Le Nozze de Figaro' by Ignace Xavier Joseph Leybach — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.