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Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – great composer

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – great composer

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – great composer


Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov was a great Russian composer and conductor. You know, he was a member of the Russian Mighty Five. All his works are connected with the fairy-tale world, with the life of the people, with the nature of Russia.
The future composer was born on March 6, 1844 in Tikhvin. His father was a descendant of a noble family. Starting with the great-great-grandfather, who was the Rear Admiral of the fleet even under Elizaveta Petrovna, all his ancestors occupied important positions in the administration or in the army. The boy began to be taught music at the age of six. But boring teachers could not instill in their pupil the love of the subject.
At the age of twelve, his father brought Nikolai to the northern capital and gave him to the naval corps. In the same year, the cellist Ullich began to teach him how to play the piano. At the age of 16, Nikolai began to take lessons from Fyodor Canilla, the famous pianist. In addition, the young man joined the Balakirev circle in 1861. A year later, Rimsky-Korsakov set out on a voyage around the world. During the trip, he wrote only Andante for the symphony.

After returning home, he greedily made up for everything that he missed during the voyage: he read, played, communicated, worked on the First Symphony and performed it in a concert. In 1867 he composed Sadko for the orchestra, which brought him real recognition. And in the same period, love came to Nikolai. He was fascinated by Nadezhda Purgold, who, together with her sister Alexandra, performed works written by the members of the circle.
The following four years the composer was working on the opera The Maid of Pskov (Pskovityanka). In 1871 Nikolai began teaching at the Conservatory and in the same year Nadezhda Purgold became his bride. They had seven children, two of whom died in childhood.
Later Rimsky-Korsakov wrote the opera May Night and right after it he asked Ostrovsky’s permission to use his play The Snow Maiden to compose music. The playwright was delighted with the result.
During 1894-1902 the composer worked on the second opera The Night Before Christmas based on the Gogol’s work. There was no end to the ovations, when in 1900 the Tale of Tsar Saltan was staged. It was written for the celebration of the centenary of Alexander Pushkin’s birth.
Then he wrote his most innovative work – the opera Kashchei the Immortal.
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - Cadet of the Naval Cadet Corps in parade uniform, 1857

Little Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – Cadet of the Naval Cadet Corps in parade uniform, 1857


After the Bloody Sunday of 1905 students demanded to stop their studies until the fall. Nikolai Andreevich supported them, for which he was dismissed. To tell the truth, many professors left the conservatory together with Rimsky-Korsakov.
In 1906, the composer began work on the Golden Cockerel. A year later the opera was finished, but the governor-general of Moscow didn’t allow to stage it because of the satire on the tsar. The opera was performed in 1909, but the composer did not see it.
He died on June 21, 1908. Rimsky-Korsakov was buried in St. Petersburg at the Novodevichy Cemetery. In 1930, his ashes were moved to the Necropolis of Artists at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – great composer

Outstanding composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Outstanding composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Portrait of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov by Ilya Repin

Ilya Repin. Portrait of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Portrait of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov by V. Serov, 1898

Portrait of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov by V. Serov, 1898

N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov in civilian clothes. New York, 1863

Young N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov in civilian clothes. New York, 1863

A scene in the palace of King Berendey. The Snow Maiden. Bolshoi Theater, 1954

A scene in the palace of King Berendey. The Snow Maiden. Bolshoi Theater, 1954

A.I. Alexeyev as an Indian guest. Sadko. Bolshoi Theater, 1935

A.I. Alexeyev as an Indian guest. Sadko. Bolshoi Theater, 1935

A.V. Nezhdanova in Koschei the Immortal. The Bolshoi Theater, 1917

A.V. Nezhdanova in Koschei the Immortal. The Bolshoi Theater, 1917

A.V. Nezhdanova in the role of Martha. Bolshoi Theater, 1933

A.V. Nezhdanova in the role of Martha. Bolshoi Theater, 1933

E.A. Stepanova as the Swan-Bird. The Tale of Tsar Saltan. Bolshoi Theater, 1913

E.A. Stepanova as the Swan-Bird. The Tale of Tsar Saltan. Bolshoi Theater, 1913

E.A. Stepanova in the role of the Swan Princess. Bolshoi Theater, 1913

E.A. Stepanova in the role of the Swan Princess. Bolshoi Theater, 1913

E.I. Zbrueva in the role of Lel. The Snow Maiden. Bolshoi Theater, 1894

E.I. Zbrueva in the role of Lel. The Snow Maiden. Bolshoi Theater, 1894

E.K. Mravina in the role of Oksana. Christmas Eve. The Mariinsky Theater, 1895

E.K. Mravina in the role of Oksana. Christmas Eve. The Mariinsky Theater, 1895

F.I. Shalyapin as the Varangian guest. Sadko, Russian private opera, 1897

F.I. Shalyapin as the Varangian guest. Sadko, Russian private opera, 1897

F.I. Stravinsky as Prince Mstivoi. Opera-ballet Mlada. The Mariinsky Theater, 1892

F.I. Stravinsky as Prince Mstivoi. Opera-ballet Mlada. The Mariinsky Theater, 1892

Famous Rimsky-Korsakov in a birch grove in Krapachukha, 1903

Famous Rimsky-Korsakov in a birch grove in Krapachukha, 1903

G.M. Nelepp in the role of Sadko. Bolshoi Theater, 1949

G.M. Nelepp in the role of Sadko. Bolshoi Theater, 1949

I. Maslennikova in the role of Snow Maiden. Bolshoi Theater, 1954

I. Maslennikova in the role of Snow Maiden. Bolshoi Theater, 1954

I.P. Pryanishnikov in the role of Mizgir. Mariinsky Theater, 1882. The first production of The Snow Maiden

I.P. Pryanishnikov in the role of Mizgir. Mariinsky Theater, 1882. The first production of The Snow Maiden

I.V. Ershov in the role of Grishka Kuterma. Kitezh. The Mariinsky Theater, 1907

I.V. Ershov in the role of Grishka Kuterma. Kitezh. The Mariinsky Theater, 1907

I.V. Ershov in the role of Kashchei. Petrograd, 1918

I.V. Ershov in the role of Kashchei. Petrograd, 1918

I.V. Gryzunov in the role of Mizgir. Bolshoi Theater, 1911

I.V. Gryzunov in the role of Mizgir. Bolshoi Theater, 1911

J. Heine-Wagner as Fevronia. The Opera and Ballet Theater of the Latvian SSR. Riga, 1955

J. Heine-Wagner as Fevronia. The Opera and Ballet Theater of the Latvian SSR. Riga, 1955

K.G. Derzhinskaya in the role of Vera Shelga. Bolshoy Theater, 1920

K.G. Derzhinskaya in the role of Vera Shelga. Bolshoy Theater, 1920

L. Avdeeva in the role of Lel. The Snow Maiden. Bolshoi Theater, 1954

L. Avdeeva in the role of Lel. The Snow Maiden. Bolshoi Theater, 1954

L. V. Sobinov in the role of Tsar Berendey. The Snow Maiden. Bolshoi Theater, 1911

L. V. Sobinov in the role of Tsar Berendey. The Snow Maiden. Bolshoi Theater, 1911

M.S. Grishko in the role of Grigory Gryazny. The Tsar's Bride

M.S. Grishko in the role of Grigory Gryazny. The Tsar’s Bride

Monument to N. Rimsky-Korsakov in the garden behind the House-Museum of N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov in Tikhvin

Monument to N. Rimsky-Korsakov in the garden behind the House-Museum of N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov in Tikhvin

N.A. Obukhova in the role of Kashcheyevna. The Bolshoi Theater, 1917

N.A. Obukhova in the role of Kashcheyevna. The Bolshoi Theater, 1917

N.A. Obukhova in the role of Spring, The Snow Maiden. Bolshoi Theater, 1930s

N.A. Obukhova in the role of Spring, The Snow Maiden. Bolshoi Theater, 1930s

N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov (first right) in the group of midshipmen on the deck of the Almaz clipper. New York

Brilliant N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov (first right) in the group of midshipmen on the deck of the Almaz clipper. New York

N.V. Salina in the role of Snow Maiden. Russian private opera, 1885

N.V. Salina in the role of Snow Maiden. Russian private opera, 1885

P.M. Zhuravlenko in the role of Tsar Saltan. Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater, 1938

P.M. Zhuravlenko in the role of Tsar Saltan. Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater, 1938

Pskovityanka. Mariinskii Opera House. 1873. Scenery by M.A. Shishkov

Pskovityanka. Mariinskii Opera House. 1873. Scenery by M.A. Shishkov

S. Lemeshev in the role of Stargazer. Bolshoi Theater, 1933

S. Lemeshev in the role of Stargazer. Bolshoi Theater, 1933

Rimsky-Korsakov in his office in St. Petersburg

Rimsky-Korsakov in his office in St. Petersburg

S. Ya. Lemeshev in the role of Tsar Berendey. The Snow Maiden. The Bolshoi Theatre

S. Ya. Lemeshev in the role of Tsar Berendey. The Snow Maiden. The Bolshoi Theatre

Talented N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov, 1890s

Talented N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov, 1890s

The sea princess. Watercolor by M. A. Vrubel, 1904

The sea princess. Watercolor by M. A. Vrubel, 1904

The Tikhvinka River and the house where the composer was born

The Tikhvinka River and the house where the composer was born

V.R. Pikok in the role of Stargazer. Gold Cockerel, 1909

V.R. Pikok in the role of Stargazer. Gold Cockerel, 1909