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[Ultra-Advanced] Even challenging for advanced players! A curated selection of highly difficult piano pieces

The piano is an instrument that allows a single performer to play an enormous number of notes while skillfully using delicate motor skills in the fingertips and arms, interpreting the composer’s intent along with the notated instructions, and expressing the pianist’s own sensibilities.

There are many pieces that call for beautiful, nuanced expression, as well as passionate works where the keys are struck almost like a percussion instrument.

This time, we’ve selected and will introduce pieces from among the vast piano repertoire that are said to be difficult even for advanced players and professionals.

We’ve picked everything from famous works generally regarded as challenging to lesser-known pieces that may not dazzle in performance but are extraordinarily difficult.

Be sure to check them out!

Playlist

[Ultra-Advanced] Even challenging for advanced players! A curated selection of highly difficult piano pieces
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1Oriental Fantasy: IslameyMily Balakirev
Oriental Fantasy: IslameyMily Balakirevplay_arrow
The great composers who represent Russia, commonly known as the “...
2Grandes études de Paganini, S.141 No. 3 “La Campanella”Franz Liszt
Grandes études de Paganini, S.141 No. 3 “La Campanella”Franz Lisztplay_arrow
When people hear “a difficult piano piece,” many of them will think of this...
3English Country TunesMichael Finnissy
English Country TunesMichael Finnissyplay_arrow
This grand work, consisting of eight movements, was in Britain...
4Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S.514 “Dance in the Village Inn”Franz Liszt
Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S.514 “Dance in the Village Inn”Franz Lisztplay_arrow
Known as a masterpiece of transcendental virtuosity in the history of piano performance…
58 Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 5: ScherzoNikolay Kapustin
8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 5: ScherzoNikolay Kapustinplay_arrow
Based on the 12-bar blues form, boogie-wo...
6Piano Sonata in B minor, S.178Franz Liszt
Piano Sonata in B minor, S.178Franz Lisztplay_arrow
Composed between 1849 and 1853…
7The Flight of the BumblebeeRimsky-Korsakov-Cziffra
The Flight of the BumblebeeRimsky-Korsakov-Cziffraplay_arrow
A succession of sounds with lively motion, like a bear darting around...
8Chromatic Grand GallopFranz Liszt
Chromatic Grand GallopFranz Lisztplay_arrow
A masterpiece on the list, “Grand Chromatic Galop.” “...
9Piano Sonata No. 17 “Tempest,” Third Movement, Op. 31 No. 2Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No. 17 “Tempest,” Third Movement, Op. 31 No. 2Ludwig van Beethovenplay_arrow
More precisely, Piano Sonata No. 1 composed by Beethoven…
10Aesop’s Feast, Opus 39-12Charles Valentin Alkan
Aesop's Feast, Opus 39-12Charles Valentin Alkanplay_arrow
A grand set of variations consisting of a theme and 25 variations...
11Polonaise No. 3 in A major, Op. 40 No. 1 “Heroic”Frederic Chopin
Polonaise No. 3 in A major, Op. 40 No. 1 “Heroic”Frederic Chopinplay_arrow
Polo… by Frédéric Chopin, the poet of the piano
12Transcendental Études, S.139 No. 5 “Feux follets” (Will-o’-the-Wisps)Franz Liszt
Transcendental Études, S.139 No. 5 “Feux follets” (Will-o’-the-Wisps)Franz Lisztplay_arrow
Known as one of the most overwhelmingly difficult piano pieces in the world…
13Island of JoyClaude Debussy
Island of JoyClaude Debussyplay_arrow
Clau... the French Impressionist composer, Clau...
14Transcendental Études, S.139 No. 4 “Mazeppa”Franz Liszt
Transcendental Études, S.139 No. 4 “Mazeppa”Franz Lisztplay_arrow
The master who shines brilliantly in the history of classical music, Fran...
158 Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 1: PreludeNikolay Kapustin
8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 1: PreludeNikolay Kapustinplay_arrow
Pushing the fusion of jazz and classical to its very limits...
16Piano Concerto No. 2, First MovementSergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 2, First MovementSergei Rachmaninovplay_arrow
Piano Concerto by Sergei Rachmaninoff
17Etude Op. 10 No. 4Frederic Chopin
Etude Op. 10 No. 4Frederic Chopinplay_arrow
Chopin’s demanding piece, “Etude Op. 10 No. 4”…
188 Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 3: ToccatinaNikolay Kapustin
8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 3: ToccatinaNikolay Kapustinplay_arrow
A practice piece where classical and jazz are beautifully fused...
19Totentanz, S.555 R.240Saint-Saëns=Liszt
Totentanz, S.555 R.240Saint-Saëns=Lisztplay_arrow
The representative work by the French composer Saint-Saëns is...
20Etude Op. 10 No. 12 “Revolutionary”Frederic Chopin
Etude Op. 10 No. 12 “Revolutionary”Frederic Chopinplay_arrow
Etude Op. 10 No. 12 “Revolutionary” is intense…
21Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30Sergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30Sergei Rachmaninovplay_arrow
The piano ... composed by Rachmaninoff in 1909
22Etude ‘Railway’ Op.27bCharles Valentin Alkan
Etude 'Railway' Op.27bCharles Valentin Alkan
An étude by Alkan themed on railways, of high difficulty
23Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata”Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata”Ludwig van Beethovenplay_arrow
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor “Appassionata,” Third Mov…
243rd movement from PetrushkaIgor Stravinsky
3rd movement from PetrushkaIgor Stravinskyplay_arrow
Focusing on primitivism, neoclassicism, and serialism...
25Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, Op. 214Johann Strauss II
Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, Op. 214Johann Strauss IIplay_arrow
Composed by Johann Strauss II in 1858...
2660 Grand Etudes No. 24 “Bravura (Heroically)”Jean-Amédée Méreaux
60 Grand Etudes No. 24 “Bravura (Heroically)”Jean-Amédée Méreauxplay_arrow
A work that pursues the ultimate in brilliant and powerful piano performance…
2760 Etudes, No. 60: Allegro assaiJean-Amédée Méreaux
60 Etudes, No. 60: Allegro assaiJean-Amédée Méreauxplay_arrow
One of the representative musical works of 19th-century France…
28Study No. 7 for Player PianoConlon Nancarrow
Study No. 7 for Player PianoConlon Nancarrowplay_arrow
This “Étude for Player Piano No. …”
29Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16Sergei Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16Sergei Prokofievplay_arrow
Sergei..., a Russian composer who epitomized the 20th century,
30Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 8: FinaleNikolay Kapustin
Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 8: FinaleNikolay Kapustinplay_arrow
A pia… that brilliantly fuses classical and jazz
31Etude Op. 25 No. 6Frederic Chopin
Etude Op. 25 No. 6Frederic Chopinplay_arrow
Fla..., who has created numerous beautiful masterpieces, has...
32Fantasy in C major, Op. 15, D 760 “Wanderer Fantasy”Franz Schubert
Fantasy in C major, Op. 15, D 760 “Wanderer Fantasy”Franz Schubertplay_arrow
Franz Schubert’s Fantasy in C major...
33Spanish Rhapsody, Op. 254Franz Liszt
Spanish Rhapsody, Op. 254Franz Lisztplay_arrow
They are known for creating devilishly difficult pieces…
34Concerto for piano soloCharles Valentin Alkan
Concerto for piano soloCharles Valentin Alkanplay_arrow
A composer of Romantic music who represents France, ...
3512 Etudes in All Minor Keys, Op. 39: No. 3 “Diabolical Scherzo”Charles Valentin Alkan
12 Etudes in All Minor Keys, Op. 39: No. 3 “Diabolical Scherzo”Charles Valentin Alkanplay_arrow
The leading Romantic composer representing France, Cha...
36Gaspard de la nuit, No. 3: ScarboMaurice Ravel
Gaspard de la nuit, No. 3: ScarboMaurice Ravelplay_arrow
Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit is a difficult piece that demands both technique and expressive power.
37Etude Op.10-2 in A minorFrederic Chopin
Etude Op.10-2 in A minorFrederic Chopinplay_arrow
Chopin’s études require finger flexibility.
38Toccata in C major, Op. 7Robert Schumann
Toccata in C major, Op. 7Robert Schumannplay_arrow
A composer representing the German Romantic movement of the 19th century…
39Piano Sonata No. 5Alexander Scriabin
Piano Sonata No. 5Alexander Scriabinplay_arrow
The Russian ... who had a tremendous impact on modern music
40Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106 “Hammerklavier”Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106 “Hammerklavier”Ludwig van Beethovenplay_arrow
The great master who shines brilliantly in the history of music, Ludwig v...
41Etudes-Tableaux, Op. 39Sergei Rachmaninov
Etudes-Tableaux, Op. 39Sergei Rachmaninovplay_arrow
Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff...
42Years of Pilgrimage, Second Year – Supplement: “Venice and Naples,” S.162, No. 3: “Tarantella”Franz Liszt
Years of Pilgrimage, Second Year – Supplement: “Venice and Naples,” S.162, No. 3: “Tarantella”Franz Lisztplay_arrow
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it the culmination of Franz Liszt’s work…
43Etudes for Piano, Book II, No. 13 “The Devil’s Staircase”György Ligeti
Etudes for Piano, Book II, No. 13 “The Devil’s Staircase”György Ligetiplay_arrow
A great figure who left behind numerous experimental works...
44Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13Robert Schumann
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13Robert Schumannplay_arrow
The composer Robert Schu—, a leading figure of the Romantic era,
45Opus ClavichenbalisticumKaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji
Opus ClavichenbalisticumKaikhosru Shapurji Sorabjiplay_arrow
A modern music composer known for experimental composition…