Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Russia

Birth

:

March 18, 1844 in Tikhvin, Russia

Death

:

June 21, 1908 in Lyubensk, Russia

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russian composer, conductor, and teacher who was born on March 18, 1844, in Tikhvin, Russia. He was the second son of a noble family, and his father was a government official. Rimsky-Korsakov showed an early interest in music and began piano lessons at the age of six. He also learned to play the violin and the trombone. In 1856, Rimsky-Korsakov entered the Naval Cadet Corps in St. Petersburg, where he continued his musical studies. He played in the corps' orchestra and began composing music. In 1861, he graduated from the corps and became a naval officer. However, he continued to pursue his musical interests and began taking private composition lessons with Mily Balakirev, a leader of the Russian nationalist movement in music. Rimsky-Korsakov's early compositions were influenced by Balakirev and other members of the nationalist group, such as Modest Mussorgsky and Cesar Cui. His first major work was the Symphony No. 1 in E minor, which he composed in 1865. The symphony was well-received and established Rimsky-Korsakov as a promising young composer. In 1871, Rimsky-Korsakov resigned from the navy to devote himself to music full-time. He became a professor of composition at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where he taught many of the leading Russian composers of the next generation, including Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Prokofiev. Rimsky-Korsakov's most famous works are his orchestral suites and operas. His orchestral suites, such as Scheherazade and Capriccio Espagnol, are colorful and exotic, featuring lush melodies and intricate rhythms. Scheherazade, which was composed in 1888, is based on the Arabian Nights tales and features a solo violin representing the storyteller Scheherazade. The work is known for its rich orchestration and evocative themes. Rimsky-Korsakov's operas are also notable for their colorful orchestration and exotic subject matter. His most famous opera is The Golden Cockerel, which was composed in 1907. The opera is based on a fairy tale by Alexander Pushkin and features a magical rooster that can predict the future. The work is known for its intricate vocal writing and imaginative orchestration. Other notable operas by Rimsky-Korsakov include The Snow Maiden, Sadko, and The Tsar's Bride. The Snow Maiden, which was composed in 1881, is based on a Russian folk tale and features a magical maiden who falls in love with a mortal. The work is known for its beautiful choral writing and evocative orchestration. Sadko, which was composed in 1896, is based on a Russian legend about a musician who travels to the underwater kingdom of the sea king. The work is known for its colorful orchestration and imaginative use of folk melodies. The Tsar's Bride, which was composed in 1899, is a historical drama set in 16th-century Russia. The work is known for its complex vocal writing and dramatic orchestration. In addition to his orchestral suites and operas, Rimsky-Korsakov also composed chamber music, choral works, and songs. His chamber music includes a string quartet and a piano quintet, both of which are notable for their intricate counterpoint and colorful harmonies. Rimsky-Korsakov died on June 21, 1908, in Lyubensk, Russia, at the age of 64. He is remembered as one of the leading composers of the Russian nationalist movement and as a master of orchestration.

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