Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov

Born in Tikhvin, Russia, in 1844, Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov first trained for a naval career before fully turning to music. He became one of the composers known as "The Five," a group that wanted to build a distinct Russian classical style rather than simply follow Western European models.

He is especially admired as a master of orchestration—the art of choosing and blending instruments for color and effect. Works such as Scheherazade, Capriccio Espagnol, and the Russian Easter Festival Overture remain concert favorites, while operas including The Snow Maiden, Sadko, and The Golden Cockerel show his love of folklore, fantasy, and storytelling.

Rimsky-Korsakov was also an important teacher at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, where he influenced younger composers and helped shape Russian music beyond his own lifetime. He died in 1908, but his music still stands out for its brilliance, imagination, and unmistakable sense of scene and character.