Born: Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov. 6 March 1844, Tikhvin near Novgorod, Russia Father: Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov (1784-1862), a governor of the Volyn province Mother: Sofya (1802-1890), landowner's daughter. Siblings: brother Voin (22 yrs older) was a navigator and explorer Wife: Nadezhda Purgold, pianist. Children: seven, including Andrey, Mikhail and Vladimir Died: 21 June 1908, Lyubensk, Russia Cause of death: angina Grave: Alexander Nevsky Monastery, St Petersburg, next to Borodin, Glinka and Mussorgsky. see findagrave
11 symphonic works including:
- 3 symphonies
- Sadko (symphonic poem)
- Scheherazade
- Symphoniette on Russian Themes
- Capriccio Espagnol 15 operas including:
- The Snow Maiden
- Mozart and Salieri
- The Tale of Tsar Sultan (which includes the Flight of the Bumblebee and The Wedding March)
- Le Coq d'Or 3 concertos including:
- Trombone Concerto
- Piano Concerto
- Fantasia for Violin 79 Romances (voice and piano) 2 collections of Russian folk songs Other works including sacred music, piano pieces and instrumental works. 3 Books including:
- Text book on Harmony
- The Principles of Orchestration
- The Legend of My Musical Life
Biography/Career
- age 12: Entered St.Petersburg Naval Academy. While there first he took cello lesson and later piano and composition lessons from Théodore Canillé.
- age 17: Canillé introduced him to the 'Balakirev Circle' of amateur musicians which included Mussorgsky, Borodin and Cui. With the guidance of Balakirev they followed the influence of Glinka. They were later known as " The Five".
- age 18-21: travelled round the world in the Russian navy. He managed to compose his first Symphony during the trip and it was performed by Balakirev's Free Music School on his return.
- age 27: became a professor at the St.Petersburg conservatory and resigned his naval commission 2 years later.
- age 28: Married Nadezhda Purgold, a talented musician and pianist. Mussorgsky was their best man. Nadezhda became a musical partner as well as a domestic partner, similar to the Clara and Robert Schumann relationship.
- age 29: appointed to the newly created post of Inspector of Naval Bands
- age 30-37: Director of the Free School. Continued as Inspector of the Naval Bands till he was 40.
- age 37-44 Edited Mussorgsky's works (he had died in 1881) and completed Borodin's Prince Igor.
- age 40: As a prominent member of The Belyayev Circle (a group of composers and musicians under the patronage of Belyayev - a rich industrialist) he organised the Russian Symphony Concerts.
- age 45: He became very interested in Wagner's works following seeing a performance of 'The Ring' in St.Petersburg. From then on he dedicated himself to writing opera for the rest of his creative life.
