Stamp of the Month: March 2019 – Motivgruppe Musik

Russia 20.1.1994

Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov
The Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov was born in Tikhvin on 18 March, 1844. He died on June 21, 1908 near Luga / St Petersburg. In March 2019, his birthday marks the 175th time.

Rimsky-Korsakov’s musical talent was early recognized and encouraged. In 1859, his piano teacher introduced him to the composers Balakirev and Cui. They encouraged him to compose his first work. After his military service Rimsky-Korsakov was mainly involved with Russian folk music and ancient Russian traditions, which he incorporated into his works.

In 1871 he became professor of orchestration and composition at the St Petersburg Conservatory and from 1874 to 1881 he was director of the Free School of Music. Due to his academic position, he became the most influential representative of “The Mighty Handful”. His students included, among others, Glazunov, Stravinsky and Prokofiev and his influence is also felt in some orchestral works of Ravel, Debussy, Dukas and Respighi.
Rimsky-Korsakov composed 15 operas, several orchestral works, choral works, chamber music, piano music and songs.

The video shows the violinist David Garrett on a recital of the orchestral piece “Flight of the Bumblebee” from the opera “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, taken in Saarbrücken on May 8, 2016.