Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
DATES

Born March 18, 1844 in Tikhvin, Russia
Died June 21, 1908 in St. Petersburg, Russia

NATIONALITY

Russian

STYLE/PERIOD

Romantic 1820-1910

FAMOUS WORKS

Scheherazade, Capriccio espagnol

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

BIOGRAPHY


Rimsky-Korsakov showed no great love for music as a child. His parents insisted he study piano but he wanted to be a sailor. He liked to compose in his free time. At age 12, he entered Naval School where he heard opera and continued to study piano and composition. He grew to like naval life less and less, and after a three-year cruise, he decided to pursue music as a career.

As the Inspector of Navy’s Music, he became familiar with the technical aspects of each instrument and developed a gift for orchestration. He was a member of a group of composers who changed Russian music forever. The “Russian Five” included Mussorgsky, Cui, BorodinRimsky-Korsakov, and Balakirev.

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