[Advanced] Super cool if you can play it! Selection of famous piano pieces

When you think of classical piano pieces, many people probably imagine graceful melodies and gentle, soothing works.

However, in this article we’re introducing pieces that overturn that image: fiercely beautiful, dynamic, and cool classical piano works by various composers—aspirational, advanced-level repertoire for learners who dream of becoming top pianists.

These cool classical pieces have great performance impact, so they’re guaranteed to shine at recitals and studio concerts!

If you’re looking for technically challenging and dazzling piano works, don’t miss this!

Playlist

[Advanced] Super cool if you can play it! Selection of famous piano pieces
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp minor, posthumous, Op. 66 “Fantaisie-Impromptu”Frederic Chopin		Among Frédéric Chopin’s impromptus…
2	Grand Études after Paganini No. 3 “La Campanella,” S.141Franz Liszt		The pa… from The …, known as an extremely difficult work
3	Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight,” Third MovementLudwig van Beethoven		Ludwig van Be…, the revered musical saint whom Germany prides itself on,
4	Heroic Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53Frederic Chopin		Anyone who plays classical music has dreamed of it at least once…
5	Scherzo No. 2, Op. 31Frederic Chopin		The great composer Frédéric Chopin...
6	Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minorFranz Liszt		Having brought into the world numerous works of great difficulty…
7	Etude Collection (Studies) No. 4, Op. 10-4 in C-sharp minorFrederic Chopin		Passionate music with advanced technique is captivating.
8	Grand WaltzFrederic Chopin		Chopin’s graceful and brilliant waltz
9	TARKUS for pianoEmerson Lake&Palmer		A piano arrangement of a progressive rock masterpiece
10	Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 3 “Toccatina”Nikolai Kapustin		Loved by many fans for its sophisticated musicality…
11	Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 1 “Prelude”Nikolai Kapustin		Kapustin’s jazz-classical fusion piece
12	Kreisleriana, Op. 16 No. 7Robert Schumann		A passionate minor-key piece: Schumann’s anguish
13	Piano Sonata No. 7 in B-flat major, Op. 83, 1st movementSergei Prokofiev		Sergei Prokofiev, the Russian composer…
14	Toccata in C major, Op. 7Robert Schumann		The piece renowned as one of Schumann’s most difficult works, “Tocc…
15	Transcendental Étude No. 4 “Mazeppa”Franz Liszt		Among all piano works, it's among the very best...
16	Transcendental Étude No. 5 “Will-o’-the-Wisp”Franz Liszt		Liszt's Feux follets, a masterpiece of transcendental technique and poetic expression
17	12 Etudes, Op. 12 No. 10 “Revolutionary”Frederic Chopin		The pieces performed at piano recitals tend to prioritize technique…
18	12 Transcendental Etudes, Op. 11: No. 10 “Lezginka”Sergey Lyapunov,		Sergei Lyapunov’s masterpiece, “12 Transcendental Etudes…”
19	Waltz No. 6 in D-flat major “Minute Waltz”Frederic Chopin		A piano solo piece depicting a puppy scampering about
20	Turkish MarchWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		A masterpiece influenced by Turkish-style music
21	Fantasiestücke, Op. 12: No. 2, “Aufschwung” (Flight)Robert Schumann		A composer representing the German Romantic movement of the 19th century…
22	Nocturne No. 8, Op. 27 No. 2Frederic Chopin		Among Chopin’s works, many of which are notoriously difficult, this one in particular…
23	Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 14, U 67, E majorFelix Mendelssohn		German composer Felix Mendelsso…
24	Two Rhapsodies, Op. 79 No. 1Johannes Brahms		Johannes, a composer who represents the German Romantic school, …
25	Piano Sonata No. 23, Op. 57 “Appassionata,” Third MovementLudwig van Beethoven		The name of Ludwig van Beethoven…
26	12 Etudes, Op. 25 No. 11 “Winter Wind”Frederic Chopin		Standing alongside “12 Etudes, Op. 25 No. 6,” this pi…
27	Andante spianato and Grand Polonaise brillante, Op. 22Frederic Chopin		A concerto-like work for orchestra and piano, “An…
28	Play of WaterMaurice Ravel		A great [figure] who, through avant-garde compositions, influenced many composers…
29	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor, Op. 43, Variation 18Sergei Rachmaninov		One of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s representative works is...
30	Moments Musicaux No. 4 in E minor, “Presto”Sergei Rachmaninov		Sergei, with a poignantly wistful melody that leaves a lasting impression...
31	Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903J.S.Bach		The Baroque music master Johann Sebastian...
32	Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S.514 “Dance in the Village Inn”Franz Liszt		Introduction to Liszt’s Passionate Waltz Pieces
33	Gaspard de la nuit, No. 3: ScarboMaurice Ravel		Ravel’s formidable piece Scarbo demands expressive power.
34	12 Etudes, Op. 8, No. 12 “Pathétique”Aleksandr Skryabin		Alexander Scriabin’s masterpiece “1…
35	DedicationSchumann＝Liszt		A masterpiece composed by Schumann and arranged by Liszt
36	Totentanz, S.555 R.240Saint-Saëns=Liszt		“Danse macabre” composed by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns, “Death…”
37	Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20Frederic Chopin		A masterpiece by Frédéric Chopin, Con...
38	‘Estampes’ No. 3 ‘Jardins sous la pluie’Claude Debussy		A co... themed around the rain falling on the gardens of my homeland
39	Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 is difficult for the right hand.
40	Gaspard of the Night, No. 1: OndineMaurice Ravel		If you’re well-versed in French literature, then this “...
41	Impromptu FP 176 No. 15 in C minor “In Praise of Édith Piaf”Francis Poulenc		French composer Francis Poulenc...
42	“Arpeggio,” No. 4 from the Grandes études de PaganiniFranz Liszt		Liszt, Grand Piano Variations on a Theme of Paganini
43	Piano Sonata No. 7 in B-flat major, Op. 83, Movement IIISergei Prokofiev		In Sergei Prokofiev’s piano sonatas...
44	Those Who FightUematsu Nobuo		Powerful game battle track with an emotional melody
45	Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minor, S.244Franz Liszt		Crafted by Franz Liszt, the magician of the piano…
46	Concert Etude “Knight,” Op. 17Charles Valentin Alkan		Alkan’s masterpiece piano piece
47	Island of JoyClaude Debussy		The opening trill, and then the sense of something stirring from there...
48	Masquerade Ball ‘Waltz’Aram Khachaturian		Waltz. Used in a movie and the Olympics.
49	Military PolonaiseFrederic Chopin		Explanation of Chopin’s Military Polonaise
50	Years of Pilgrimage, Third Year, S.163/R.10, A283, No. 4: The Fountains of the Villa d’EsteFranz Liszt		Liszt’s brilliant piano piece that depicts the movement of water
51	For Piano, No. 1: PreludeClaude Debussy		Completed by Claude Debussy in 1901…
52	Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52Frederic Chopin		“12 Etudes Op. 25-6” and “12…
53	Toccata from Le Tombeau de CouperinMaurice Ravel		Ravel’s masterpiece commemorating World War I, an innovation in Baroque style
54	Concert Paraphrase on Rigoletto, S.434Franz Liszt		Rigoletto Concert Paraphrase
55	Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58, Fourth MovementFrederic Chopin		Chopin’s striking blend of intensity and brilliance...
56	Le Tombeau de Couperin No. 4: RigaudonMaurice Ravel		A piece in which Ravel mourned his fallen comrades
57	Piano Sonata No. 18, K. 576Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart…
58	Demon KingSchubert=Liszt		Even if you don't know the composer or the title of the piece...
59	12 Etudes Op. 25-6Frederic Chopin		Among Chopin’s works, it ranks among the most difficult…
60	Legend S.175 No. 2 “St. Francis of Paola Walking on the Waves”Franz Liszt		Even when we simply say “a difficult piece,” there are many different kinds...
61	From the song cycle ‘Winterreise’: ‘Linden Tree’ S.561 R.246Schubert=Liszt		Franz Schubert, the German poet V…
62	12 Transcendental Etudes, Op. 11 No. 10 “Lezginka”Sergey Lyapunov,		Lyapunov: Caucasian Folk Dance
63	Rondo in E-flat major, Op. 16Frederic Chopin		To my disciple, Miss Caroline Hartmann, I humb—
64	Piano Sonata No. 1, Op. 2 No. 1, Fourth MovementLudwig van Beethoven		A masterpiece renowned for its powerful and passionate performance
65	Transcendental Etude No. 7 ‘Heroic’Franz Liszt		Introduction to the Difficult Piece: Liszt’s Transcendental Étude No. 7
66	Etudes, Op. 10 No. 5 “Black Keys”Frederic Chopin		Renowned for its high level of artistry and difficulty, f...
67	12 Etudes Op. 25, No. 10Frederic Chopin		Even when we say “difficult piano pieces” in general, there are actually…
68	Spanish Suite No. 1, Op. 47 ‘Asturias’Isaac Albéniz		Captivating piano works of the Spanish Suite
69	Saltarello in E minor, Op. 23Charles Valentin Alkan		Inspired by traditional Italian dance forms…
70	Scherzo Focoso, Op. 34Charles Valentin Alkan		A magnificent piano piece where advanced technique and passion intertwine
71	Concert Etudes, 8 Pieces: No. 5 “Joke”Nikolai Kapustin		A fusion piece of classical and jazz
72	“Grandes études de Paganini,” No. 6: “Theme and Variations”Franz Liszt		A masterpiece of piano arrangement of a work by Paganini
73	Years of Pilgrimage, Book II: Italy, S.161 — No. 7 “Après une lecture de Dante – Fantasia quasi Sonata”Franz Liszt		Liszt: Années de pèlerinage – Italy. For a recital.
74	24 Preludes, Op. 28 No. 24Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s masterpiece, the 24 Preludes. Independent…
75	Video, Episode 1: Reflections of WaterClaude Debussy		Introducing Debussy's Reflections in the Water
76	From Eight Concert Etudes: No. 8 “Finale”Nikolai Kapustin		A Captivating Fusion of Jazz and Classical
77	12 Etudes, Op. 25 No. 12 “Ocean”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s masterpiece, Twelve Études. Etude...
78	Piano Sonata in B minor, S.178Franz Liszt		Liszt's piano sonata requires highly advanced technique
79	Years of Pilgrimage, Second Year – Supplement: “Venice and Naples,” S.162, No. 3: “Tarantella”Franz Liszt		It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it the culmination of Franz Liszt’s work…
80	Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35, Fourth MovementFrederic Chopin		Chopin’s piano so... with its strikingly independent form
81	Concert Allegro in A major, Op. 46Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s solo piano piece, known as a difficult work...
82	Barcarolle, Op. 60, CT 6, in F-sharp majorFrederic Chopin		Chopin’s Barcarolle is elegant and highly difficult.