Rimsky-Korsakov N.A., (1844-1908), composer

Categories / Art/Music, Theatre/Personalia
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Nikolay Andreevich (1844-1908, Lyubensk summer residence near Luga in the St. Petersburg Region), composer, pedagogue, director, musical public figure. Graduated from the Russian Imperial Naval College in 1862, served on the Almaz clipper-ship until 1865, then in the 8th crew, and became superintendent of the Marine Office Military Orchestra in 1873-84 (Collegiate Assessor). In 1861 he became acquainted with M.A. Balakirev, frequented his Saturdays-soirees, and became a member of The Mighty Handful. After returning from a world cruise he became a welcome guest at the residencies of the Stasovs' musical circle (26 Mokhovaya Street), M.I. Glinka's sister L.I. Shestakova (30 Gagarinskaya Street), and A.S. Dargomizhsky (30 Mokhovaya Street). Since 1867 his symphonic compositions were regularly performed at the Free Music School (which he came to direct in 1874-81) and the Russian Music Society. In 1871 he became a professor at the Conservatory, teaching composition and instrumentation. In 37 years he taught over 200 musicians and created a school of composition. His students included: A.K. Glazunov, A.K. Lyadov, A.S. Arensky, I.F. Stravinsky, N.N. Cherepnin, and S.S. Prokofiev. He wrote Practical Manuals of Harmony (1885-86) and Principles of Orchestration (1908), the latter of which is still used today. In the 1880s Rimsky-Korsakov's students formed Belyaev's Circle, which gathered at the home of the arts patron M.P. Belyaev. Rimsky-Korsakov instituted various musical gatherings, the Belyaev Russian Symphony Concerts and Quartet Nights, the annual Glinka Prize, and publication of Russian composition professors. In 1883-94 he was deputy director of Count Sheremetyev's Court Capella, introduced educational, foreign, and regent classes, and taught music theory and orchestration. Rimsky-Korsakov created a huge musical heritage. The premiers of the majority of his choir, chamber, and symphonic works took place in St. Petersburg (Capriccio Espagnol, 1887; Scheherazade, 1888). The premiers of his operas The Maid of Pskov (1873), May Night (1880), The Snow Maiden (1882), Mlada (1892), Christmas Eve Suite (1895), Servilia (1902), The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya (1907) were all staged at the Mariinsky Theatre. Koshchey the Immortal, which was understood by the public as a sharp satire on the Russian Monarchy, was staged by students in the hall of the Passage in 1905. Rimsky-Korsakov changed many addresses in St. Petersburg, and lived in his last apartment at 28 Zagorodny Avenue from 1893 (memorial plaque installed; museum-apartment since 1971). He was originally buried at Novodevichye Cemetery, and in 1937 his ashes were transported to the Necropolis of Arists. The name of Rimsky-Korsakov was given to an avenue, the Conservatory, and a school of music. A monument to the composer was installed on Teatralnaya Square in 1952 (sculptors V.Y. Bogolyubov, V.I. Ingal). Rimsky-Korsakov's son, Andrey Nikolaevich (1878-1940), was a music critic, editor of the journal Musical Contemporary (1915-17), and head of the Scores Department of the Manuscripts Department of the State Public Library (1918-40). He instituted the Rimsky-Korsakov Museum and the publication of his father's complete works. Rimsky-Korsakov's grandson, Georgy Mikhailovich (1901-1965), was a composer, musician, acoustician, and pedagogue. In 1929-32 he was a sound engineer for Lenfilm's dream factory, in 1929-46 he was a member of the Leningrad Institute of Theatre and Music, and in 1927-62 taught music acoustics and orchestration at the conservatory. He was one of the founders of the Rimsky-Korsakov museum in Tikhvin.

References: Орлова А. А., Римский-Корсаков В. Н. Страницы жизни Н. А. Римского-Корсакова: Летопись жизни и творчества: В 4 вып. Л., 1969-1973; Кунин И. Ф. Римский-Корсаков: Жизнь и творчество в воспоминаниях, письмах, критич. отзывах. М., 1974; Полевая М. И. Римский-Корсаков в Петербурге. Л., 1989.

A. L. Porfiryeva. Arensky Anton Stepanovich
Balakirev Mily Alexeevich
Belyaev Mitrofan Petrovich
Bogolyubov Veniamin Yakovlevich
Cherepnin Nikolay Nikolaevich
Dargomyzhsky Alexander Sergeevich
Glazunov Alexander Konstantinovich
Glinka Mikhail Ivanovich
Ingal Vladimir Iosifovich
Lyadov Anatoly Konstantinovich
Prokofiev Sergey Sergeevich
Rimsky-Korsakov Andrey Nikolaevich
Rimsky-Korsakov Georgy Mikhailovich
Rimsky-Korsakov Nikolay Andreevich
Sheremetev Sergey Dmitrievich, Count
Shestakova Lyudmila Ivanovna
Stravinsky Igor Fedorovich
the Stasovs
Gagarinskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 30
Mokhovaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 26
Mokhovaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 30
Rimsky-Korsakov Ave/Saint Petersburg, city
Teatralnaya Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Zagorodny Avenue/Saint Petersburg, city, house 28
Орлова А. А., Римский-Корсаков В. Н. Страницы жизни Н. А. Римского-Корсакова: Летопись жизни и творчества: В 4 вып. Л., 1969-1973
Кунин И. Ф. Римский-Корсаков: Жизнь и творчество в воспоминаних, письмах, критич. отзывах. М., 1974
Полевая М. И. Римский-Корсаков в Петербурге. Л., 1989 Naval Cadet Corps
Free Music School
Musical Society, The Russian
Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory
Mariinsky Theatre
Novodevichye Cemetery
Novodevichye Cemetery
Necropolis of Artists
Russian National Library
Lenfilm, Film Studio
Theatre Art Academy
1882
1952