At the age of 6 years it began homeschooling, including playing the piano, however, in comparison with books, music made less of an impression on the child: of the latter, he liked church music more, as well as Russian folk songs. At the age of 11 he began composing his first musical works.
In 1856, his father sent Nikolai, who dreamed of traveling, to the Naval Cadet Corps. In 1858, the future composer developed a real passion for music: he became acquainted with the operas of Rossini, Donizetti and von Weber, but he was especially struck by “Robert the Devil” by Giacomo Meyerbeer and the works of Mikhail Glinka - “A Life for the Tsar”, “Ruslan and Lyudmila”, "Capriccio on the theme Aragonese Jota" Then he became interested in the music of Beethoven (he admired the composer’s “Pastoral Symphony”), Mozart and Mendelssohn. "I was 16 summer child, who passionately loved music and played it,” he later recalled. Feeling the need to get more serious music education, in the fall of 1859, Nikolai began taking lessons from pianist Fyodor Andreevich Kanille.
In 1862, his father died, and the Rimsky-Korsakov family moved to St. Petersburg. In the same year, thanks to Fyodor Canilla, Nikolai met the composer Mily Balakirev and became a member of his circle, which had a decisive influence on the formation of his personality and aesthetic views. At that time, the Balakirev circle, which later became known as the “Mighty Handful,” in addition to its head Balakirev and Rimsky-Korsakov himself, included Caesar Cui and Modest Mussorgsky. Balakirev supervised the work of his younger colleagues and not only suggested the right compositional solutions for the works they created, but also helped with instrumentation.
Under the influence and leadership of Miliy Alekseevich, Rimsky-Korsakov's first major work, the First Symphony, was begun. According to the composer himself, sketches for the beginning of the symphony existed during the years of his studies with Canille, but serious work on the composition began only in 1861-1862 - and “by May 1862, the first part, the scherzo and the finale of the symphony were composed by me and somehow orchestrated."
That same spring, Nikolai graduated from the Naval Corps with honors and was accepted into naval service. From 1862 to 1865 he served on the clipper Almaz, which took part in an expedition to the shores of North America, thanks to which he visited a number of countries - England, Norway, Poland, France, Italy, Spain, USA, Brazil. Service on a clipper ship did not leave time for music, so the only work that appeared from the composer’s pen during this period was the second part of the First Symphony, Andante, written at the end of 1862, after which Rimsky-Korsakov I put aside my writing for a while. Impressions from sea life later embodied in " seascapes”, which the composer managed to capture in his works through orchestral colors.
Returning from a trip, Rimsky-Korsakov again falls into the company of members of the Balakirev circle, he meets its new member - the chemist and aspiring composer Alexander Borodin, the idol of the circle Alexander Dargomyzhsky, Glinka's sister Lyudmila Shestakova and Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
At Balakirev's insistence Rimsky-Korsakov again takes up his symphony: he composes the missing trios for the scherzo and completely re-orchestrates the work. This score (known as the first edition of the symphony) was first performed in 1865 under the baton of Balakirev, the constant performer of all of Rimsky-Korsakov's early symphonic scores. Turning under the influence of Balakirev to the Slavic folk melodies, Rimsky-Korsakov adhered to a national flavor in his music, which will continue to characterize most of his work. Found here musical language then it was successfully developed in such works as “Overture on Three Russian Themes” (first edition - 1866) and “Serbian Fantasy” (1867).
The composer’s landmark work was the musical film “Sadko” (1867; later its music would be partially used in the opera of the same name), the earliest of Rimsky-Korsakov’s programmatic works. Here he acted as a continuer of the traditions of European program symphonism - primarily Hector Berlioz and Franz Liszt, whose work greatly influenced the composer; in the future, most of Rimsky Korsakov’s works will also be associated with a specific literary program.
In "Sadko" Rimsky-Korsakov, who would later be called the “storyteller,” came into contact with the world of fairy tales for the first time; here he uses for the first time the symmetrical scale he invented, the so-called “Rimsky-Korsakov scale,” which he later used to characterize fantasy world in their musical works. Also for the first time, the composer tried to depict here with the help of orchestral colors sea element(later he did this repeatedly in such works as the suite “Scheherazade”, the prelude-cantata “From Homer”, the operas “Sadko” and “The Tale of Tsar Saltan”).
The program-fabulous beginning has received its further development in the symphonic suite "Antar", which the composer began working on in 1868 as the Second Symphony, inspired by the plot oriental fairy tale Osip Senkovsky. The composition premiered in 1869 at a concert of the Russian Musical Society.
Late 1860s Rimsky-Korsakov works on the instrumentation of other people's works: helps Cesar Cui with the orchestration of the opera "William Radcliffe" and completes, according to the will of the deceased Dargomyzhsky, the score of his opera "The Stone Guest". Turning to the operatic genre, which later became the leading genre in his work, in 1872 he completed the opera based on Lev May’s drama “The Woman of Pskov.” In the summer of the same year he married pianist Nadezhda Purgold.
In the 1870s the borders musical activity Rimsky-Korsakov expanded: starting in 1871, he became a professor at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where he taught classes in practical composition, instrumentation and orchestral; from 1873 to 1884 he was inspector of brass bands of the Naval Department, from 1874 to 1881 - director of the Free Music School. Beginning in 1874, the composer took up conducting - first symphony concerts, and then opera performances.
In the mid 1870s Rimsky-Korsakov worked to improve his compositional technique. It was during this period that he discovered serious shortcomings in his musical education and began to study the disciplines taught at the conservatory. The result of improving the composer's technique was the Third Symphony (C major, op. 32).
Funeral of Rimsky-Korsakov. Funeral procession on Voznesensky Prospekt
In the 1880s, the composer created such symphonic works as the orchestral suite “Scheherazade”, “Spanish Capriccio”, and the “Bright Holiday” overture.
Since 1882 Rimsky-Korsakov headed the Belyaevsky circle; in 1883-1894 he was also assistant manager of the Court Singing Chapel.
There was some decline in the early 1890s creative activity composer: during this period he studied philosophy, wrote articles, and also revised and edited some of his previous works. Then his work acquired exceptional intensity: one after another, the operas “The Night Before Christmas” (1895), “Sadko” (1896), “Mozart and Salieri” (1897), the prologue to the opera “The Pskov Woman” and “ The Tsar's Bride"(according to May, 1898).
During the revolutionary events of 1905-1907 Rimsky-Korsakov came out with active support for the demands of the striking students and openly condemned the actions of the administration of the St. Petersburg Conservatory: he resigned and returned to the conservatory only after it was granted partial autonomous rights and a change in leadership.
Died on June 8, 1908 in Lyubensk, in his country estate, where the memorial is now located museum complex the composer, combining two reconstructed estates - a house in Lyubensk and the neighboring estate of Vechasha, where the composer lived until 1907.
Pedagogical activity
Rimsky-Korsakov was the creator composer school, among his students there are about two hundred composers, conductors, musicologists, including Fyodor Akimenko, Nikolai Amani, Anton Arensky, Nikolai Artsybushev, Meliton Balanchivadze, Semyon Barmotin, Felix Blumenfeld, Julia Weisberg, Yazeps Vitol, Alexander Glazunov, Mikhail Gnesin, Alexander Grechaninov , Vasily Zolotarev, Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, Andrey Kazbiryuk, Nikolay Lysenko, Anatoly Lyadov, Vitold Malishevsky, Nikolay Malko, Emil Mlynarsky, Nikolay Myaskovsky, Alexander Ossovsky, Sergey Prokofiev, Ottorino Respighi, Nikolay Sokolov, Alexander Spendiarov, Igor Stravinsky, Alexander Taneyev , Nikolai Cherepnin, Maximilian Steinberg.Family
- Wife (from June 30, 1872, St. Petersburg) - Nadezhda Nikolaevna Purgold (1848-1919) - pianist, composer, musicologist.
- Children and grandchildren:
- Mikhail Nikolaevich (1873-1951) - zoologist-entomologist, forester. Married twice:
- 1st wife: Elena Georgievna Rocca-Fuchs (1871-1953).
- Natalya Mikhailovna (1900-1901).
- Georgy Mikhailovich (1901-1965) - musicologist, composer, acoustician.
- Vera Mikhailovna (1903-1973) - bibliographer.
- Elena Mikhailovna (1905-1992) - teacher of foreign languages.
- 2nd wife: Evgenia Petrovna Bartmer (1884-1929).
- Igor Mikhailovich (1911-1927).
- Olga Mikhailovna (1914-1987) - Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences.
- Sofya Nikolaevna (1875-1943) - singer. Married to Vladimir Petrovich Troitsky (1876-circa 1926).
- Irina Vladimirovna, married to Golovkin, (1904-1989) - author of the book “Swan Song. Defeated."
- Lyudmila Vladimirovna (? -1942).
- Andrey Nikolaevich (1878-1940) - musicologist, editor, Ph.D. He was married to his father’s student, composer, critic and publicist Yulia Lazarevna Weisberg (1879-1942), who died along with her son Vsevolod during the siege.
- Vsevolod Andreevich (1915-1942) - philologist, translator.
- Vladimir Nikolaevich (1882-1970) - titular adviser, violist of the Mariinsky Theater. Married to Olga Artemyevna Gilyanova (1887-1956).
- Andrey Vladimirovich (1910-2002) - acoustic physicist, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
- Tatyana Vladimirovna (1915-2006) - architect, urban planner, author of two books about her grandfather - N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov.
- Nadezhda Nikolaevna (1884-1971). Married to composer, conductor and teacher Maximilian Oseyevich Steinberg (1883-1946).
- Nadezhda Maximilianovna Steinberg (1914-1987) - philologist, author of a French grammar.
- Maria Nikolaevna (1888-1893).
- Svyatoslav Nikolaevich (1889-1890).
List of essays
Operas
- Pskov woman
- May night
- Snow Maiden
- Mlada
- Christmas Eve
- Sadko
- Mozart and Salieri
- Boyar Vera Sheloga (prologue to the opera “The Pskov Woman”)
- The Tsar's Bride
- The Tale of Tsar Saltan
- Servilia
- Kashchei the Immortal
- Pan voivode
- The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia
- Golden Cockerel
Symphonic works
- Symphony No. 1
- Fairy Tale (symphonic piece)
- Symphony No. 2
- Sinfonietta
- Overture on the themes of three Russian songs
- Antar
- Symphony No. 3
- Scheherazade
- Spanish Capriccio Espagnol
- Bright holiday (overture)
- Sadko
- Snow Maiden (suite)
- The Night Before Christmas (suite)
- Concerto for piano and orchestra
Romances
:1. The singing is louder than a lark (Words by A.K. Tolstoy)
2. Not the wind, blowing from above (Words by A.K. Tolstoy)
3. Your luxurious wreath is fresh and fragrant (Words by A. Fet)
4. That was in early spring (Words by A.K. Tolstoy)
Vocal compositions
- about 80 romances
- Russian collections folk songs for voice and piano (40 and 100 songs)
Books
- Chronicle of my musical life
- Practical textbook of harmony
- Orchestration Basics
About the composer's work
Musicologist Abram Gozenpud in 2002, in an interview with the St. Petersburg Theater Journal, quoted a letter from Rimsky-Korsakov, explaining his attitude towards his own work:As long as a person lives, his culture will live, and not the monuments that are erected to him. I will quote from the memory of the great Rimsky-Korsakov, who once turned to the editor of the Russian Musical Newspaper with a request: “Don’t call me great. I am writing to you, not for publication, I hope that my letter will never be published. There was only one Glinka. If you call me a Glinkan, I will thank you - this is the highest title. Monuments should be erected to people whose memory disappears with their death - politicians, kings, generals. And what monument could be higher than the one erected by Glinka? It is not man-made, so I ask you, do not call me great, if that’s what you need - not without talent, it’s better just - Rimsky-Korsakov. Those who don’t know me won’t believe that I’m great, but those who do will probably like it. But I don’t like my latest operas. They will probably forget me, or maybe they have already forgotten me. It will be a shame because I wrote a lot.”
Addresses in St. Petersburg
- Summer 1856 - P. N. Golovin’s apartment in the house of O. P. Zubova - Millionnaya Street, 6;
- 1867 - 09.1871 - apartment building Arens - 7th line Vasilyevsky Island, 4;
- 09.1871 - 1872 - Zaremba apartment building - Panteleimonovskaya street (now Pestel street), 11, apt. 9;
- 1872 - autumn 1873 - Morozov house - Shpalernaya street, 4;
- autumn 1873-1883 - Kononov apartment building - Furshtatskaya street, 33, apt. 9;
- 1883-1889 - Vladimirsky prospect, 18, apt. 5;
- 1889 - 09/19/1893 - Kapella house - Moika River embankment, 20;
- 09/19/1893 - 06/21/1908 - courtyard wing of the apartment building of M. A. Lavrova - Zagorodny Avenue, 28, apt. 39.
Memory
Monument to N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov on Theater Square in St. Petersburg. Sculptors V. Ya. Bogolyubov and V. I. IngalMonuments. Museums. Institutions
- Memorial Museum-Reserve N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov in the Pskov region.
- In 1952 (November 30) Rimsky-Korsakov a monument was erected at the Leningrad Conservatory on Theater Square (sculptors V.I. Ingal, V.Ya. Bogolyubov, architect M.A. Shepilevsky) Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. No. 7810110000 // Site “Objects cultural heritage(historical and cultural monuments) of peoples Russian Federation" Verified
- In Leningrad in 1971, the Museum-Apartment of N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov was opened by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. No. 7810522000 // Website “Objects of cultural heritage (historical and cultural monuments) of the peoples of the Russian Federation.” Verified
- Museum in Tikhvin, in the house where the composer was born. Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. No. 4710152000 // Website “Objects of cultural heritage (historical and cultural monuments) of the peoples of the Russian Federation.” Verified
- In Nikolaev, near Children's Music School No. 1, named after Rimsky-Korsakov, his bust was installed in 1978.
- In 1966, Krasnodar music school was named after N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov.
- In 1992, the name of the composer was assigned to Children's Art School No. 1 in Moscow in the Eastern Administrative District.
- Children's Music School No. 1 named after N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov in Pskov.
- Children's Music School named after N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov in St. Petersburg (formerly Music School for adults named after N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov).
- Children's Music School named after N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov in Luga
- Children's art school named after N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov in Tikhvin.
- Music College named after N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov in St. Petersburg.
- Children's music school No. 1 named after N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov in Nizhny Tagil
Toponyms
Russia
- Rimsky-Korsakov Avenue in St. Petersburg.
- Rimsky-Korsakov Street in Moscow.
- Rimsky-Korsakov in the village of Frunzevets (Aprelevka, Naro-Fominsk district, Moscow region).
- Rimsky-Korsakov Street in Lipetsk.
- Rimsky-Korsakov Street in Nizhny Novgorod.
- Rimsky-Korsakov Street in Novosibirsk.
- Rimsky-Korsakov Street in Tikhvin.
Ukraine
- Rimsky-Korsakov Street is a street in Donetsk.
- Rimsky-Korsakov Street is a street in Sumy.
Kazakhstan
- Rimsky-Korsakov Street is a street in Almaty.
Other
Built in 1956 for Soviet Union in Czechoslovakia the ship was given the name - Rimsky-Korsakov.Aeroflot's Airbus A320 with the number VP-BWE is named after Rimsky-Korsakov.
Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov is a world-famous Russian composer and conductor. Date of birth: March eighteenth, 1844; date of death: June twenty-first, 1908.
Throughout my life this great man wrote 15 operas that amaze with their splendor. The most famous of them are “The Snow Maiden” and, of course, “May Night”.
Rimsky-Korsakov completed his training in the famous naval cadet corps. Later, the composer went on a three-year voyage, where he felt a craving for beauty. Rimsky-Korsakov's first own symphony was performed at an ordinary free music school, where it received great success.
In addition to the fact that this great man achieved incredible success in the musical field, he was also a public figure.
During the period of his great life, Rimsky-Korsakov changed several fields. For example, he was a teacher at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, worked as a director at an ordinary free music school, and also conducted in Moscow and Paris.
Over his entire teaching period, Korsakov educated more than two hundred famous composers, as well as other musical figures. This, of course, influenced the further development of Russian classical music.
Biography by dates and interesting facts. The most important.
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Biography and episodes of life Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. When born and died Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, memorable places and dates important events his life. Composer quotes, photos and videos.
Years of life of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov:
born March 6, 1844, died June 8, 1908
Epitaph
“What’s in my name for you?
It will die like a sad noise
Waves splashing onto the distant shore,
Like the sound of the night in a deep forest.
But on a day of sadness, in silence,
Say it in sadness;
Say: there is a memory of me,
There is a heart in the world where I live..."
From the romance by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov to the poems of Alexander Pushkin
Biography
Since childhood, he dreamed of the sea, but his brilliant musical talent completely changed the biography of Rimsky-Korsakov. And, perhaps, it was precisely the love for the sea, for this huge and enchanting element, that helped the composer write such great works as, for example, the opera “Sadko” or “The Tale of Tsar Saltan.” One way or another, the fact is that one day a young sailor, who graduated with honors from the cadet corps and served for three years navy, decided to devote himself to music, there is a happy providence. Otherwise, we would never have known the great composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, as well as, perhaps, many other great students of the school of composition that Rimsky-Korsakov created.
Rimsky-Korsakov received his initial musical education at home - his first instrument was the drum, and at the age of 11 he was already composing his own works. The future composer developed a serious passion for music while he was studying at the Naval Cadet Corps. Then he began taking piano lessons from a teacher, which had to be interrupted when the young man was sent to serve. By that time, he was already a member of the “Mighty Handful” circle and even completed his first major work. And although there was neither time nor opportunity to continue writing on the ship, upon returning home, the young man decided to devote himself entirely to his later life music. So it began musical biography Rimsky-Korsakov, the greatest Russian composer of the second half of the twentieth century.
The composer's musical heritage is enormous - during his life, Rimsky-Korsakov wrote 15 operas, 3 symphonies and many other instrumental works. In parallel with his writing, he managed to teach at the conservatory, work as the director of a music school and act as an inspector of brass bands of the Naval Department, conducting symphony orchestras and opera performances. Perhaps talent was indeed given to Rimsky-Korsakov by nature, but without his incredible hard work, without the dedication with which he served music, he would hardly have been able to create so many beautiful and brilliant musical works.
Rimsky-Korsakov’s death occurred at the age of 65; the composer died on his estate, where today the composer’s memorial museum-reserve is located. The cause of Rimsky-Korsakov's death was a heart attack. Rimsky-Korsakov's funeral took place in St. Petersburg; Rimsky-Korsakov's grave is located at the Tikhvin Cemetery.
Life line
March 6, 1844 Date of birth of Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov.
1856-1862 Studying in the Naval Cadet Corps.
1861 Joining the Balakirev circle (later the “Mighty Handful”).
1862-1865 Service in the navy.
1865 Writing "The First Symphony".
1867 Writing "Serbian Fantasy" and musical picture"Sadko."
1871 Teaching at the St. Petersburg Conservatory.
June 30, 1872 Marriage to Nadezhda Purgold.
1873 Birth of son Mikhail.
1873-1884 Work as an inspector of brass bands of the Maritime Department.
1874-1881 Work as director of the Free Music School.
1874 Work as a conductor of symphony orchestras and opera performances.
1875 Birth of daughter Sophia.
1878 Birth of son Andrei.
1883 Birth of son Vladimir.
1888 Birth of daughter Nadezhda.
1896-1907 Rimsky-Korsakov wrote the operas “Sadko”, “Mozart and Salieri”, “The Tsar’s Bride”, “The Tale of Tsar Saltan”, “Kashchei the Immortal”, “The Tale of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia”, “The Golden Cockerel”.
June 8, 1908 Date of death of Rimsky-Korsakov.
June 12, 1908 Funeral of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
Memorable places
1. Rimsky-Korsakov’s house in Tikhvin, where he was born.
2. Rimsky-Korsakov Memorial Apartment Museum in the last St. Petersburg apartment where the composer lived.
3. St. Petersburg State Conservatory named after. N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov, where the composer taught.
4. Children's music school named after. Rimsky-Korsakov, successor to the Free Music School, of which Rimsky-Korsakov worked as director in 1874-1881.
5. Monument to Rimsky-Korsakov in St. Petersburg.
6. Memorial Museum-Reserve of the composer, consisting of the estates of Vechasha and Lyubensk, where Rimsky-Korsakov died.
7. Tikhvin Cemetery, where Rimsky-Korsakov is buried.
Episodes of life
Rimsky-Korsakov was not only a brilliant composer, but also a talented teacher. One day he was supposed to give a lecture on counterpoint at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He began his lesson with the words: “Now I will talk a lot, and you will listen very carefully. Then I will talk less, and you will listen and think, and finally, I will not speak at all, and you will think with your own head and work independently, because my task as a teacher is to become unnecessary to you ... "
The composer always had a sharp tongue and knew how to fend off any attacks and insults. Once an envious person remarked to Rimsky-Korsakov that his music was very similar to the music of the composer Borodin. To which Nikolai Andreevich calmly remarked: “What’s wrong? When they say about music that it is similar to something, this is not scary. But if the music doesn’t resemble anything, that’s really bad!”
Despite his sharp mind and diplomacy, Rimsky-Korsakov had a hard time communicating with the censors. Shortly before Rimsky-Korsakov's death, a conflict broke out over the release of his opera The Golden Cockerel, in which the censorship committee saw a parody of the Tsar. The composer took this situation so hard that when he learned that the production of the opera would never see the light of day, his heart gave out and Rimsky-Korsakov died.
Covenant
“Don’t call me great, if you really need to, I’m not devoid of talent, it’s better to just call me Rimsky-Korsakov.”
Biography of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov on the Kultura TV channel
Condolences
“A faithful son of the Russian people, he embodied in himself best sides national mind, character, psychology. His life is a feat, his work is the glory of Russian music in all corners of the earth.”
Vladimir Stasov, music critic
>Biographies of famous people
Brief biography of Rimsky-Korsakov
Rimsky-Korsakov Nikolai Andreevich - famous Russian composer and conductor, music critic; public figure second half of the 19th century; member of the Balakirevsky circle “Mighty Handful”. Born on March 18, 1844 in Tikhvin (Leningrad Region), into an old noble family. Rimsky-Korsakov's great-great-grandfather served as rear admiral of the fleet under Elizabeth I.
Nikolai showed his talent for music very early. At the age of 6-7 he learned to play the piano, and at the age of 9 he already made his first attempts to compose something of his own. He liked church music and Russian folk tunes. In 1862, having completed his studies at St. Petersburg maritime school, he went on a three-year voyage around the world. Both while traveling and during his studies, he continued to study music. In 1873 he was appointed inspector of military bands. He held this post for more than 10 years.
Upon returning from a long voyage, he presented his first symphony to M. A. Balakirev, which was a great success. He began to take music even more seriously after he joined the Mighty Handful group. He wrote new symphonies, entire operas, works for orchestra, etc. Among the outstanding works of Rimsky-Korsakov are the operas “Sadko”, “The Pskov Woman”, “The Snow Maiden”, and the orchestral work “Serbian Fantasy”. From 1871 he was a teacher of instrumentation classes, and three years later he was appointed director of a music school.
This outstanding composer He acted as a conductor in Moscow, Paris, Brussels, and Odessa. One could only envy his energy and enthusiasm. His operas have appeared on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater and the Moscow Private Opera. Many of his students became famous. Among them are Lyadov, Sacchetti, Bernhardt, A.K. Glazunov. In 1905, Nikolai Andreevich was removed from his duties at the conservatory due to his support for students' rights. However, in December of the same year he was invited back. Died great composer in June 1908 at the Lyubensk estate.
A year later, his autobiography “Chronicle of My Musical Life” was published. Rimsky-Korsakov was married to pianist N. Purgold, with whom they had seven children (two died in infancy). Two of his sons followed in their father's footsteps and chose music as their calling. One was a famous musicologist, and the other was a violinist and violist.
The most popular of all Russian composers, the creator of a school of composition that is still in demand today, a professor at a conservatory without a conservatory education, a patriot of the original culture of his country is Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov. In the age of technological progress and grandiose government reforms, at the turn of the era, his inspiration drew its strength not from industrial civilization or human passions, and in Russian nature, tunes native land, simple plots of epics, legends and fairy tales known from childhood. His creative legacy is truly priceless, since even after a hundred years it continues to delight listeners not only in our country, but also abroad.
Read a short biography of Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov and many interesting facts about the composer on our page.
Brief biography of Rimsky-Korsakov
The city of Tikhvin is known outside Leningrad region, perhaps, by two events: in the 14th century the icon of Tikhvin appeared here Mother of God, and on March 18, 1844, a son was born into the family of 60-year-old retired official Andrei Petrovich Rimsky-Korsakov and his 41-year-old wife Sofia Vasilievna, who was named Nikolai. The boy began to study music when early childhood, but he dreamed not about her, but about the sea: his older brother was a naval officer, and Nika, as he was called at home, wanted to be like him. Therefore, at the age of 12, he entered the capital’s Naval Cadet Corps. In St. Petersburg, a young man meets M.A. Balakirev and becomes a member of his composing circle" Mighty bunch", along with Ts.A. Cui, A.P. Borodin And M.P. Mussorgsky. But he was barely 17!
In 1862, midshipman Rimsky-Korsakov began serving in the navy. Having traveled around several continents on a ship in three years, he continues to serve on shore and at the same time is engaged in composing music - his true calling. According to the biography of Rimsky-Korsakov, in 1871 the self-taught composer was invited to teach at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He agrees, admitting that, despite sufficient practical experience, he does not have proper theoretical training. And he sits down at his desk along with his students to study the academic foundations of music. In 1872, Nikolai Andreevich married pianist Nadezhda Nikolaevna Purgold. The marriage produced 7 children.
The composer's social activities are becoming more and more intense: he directs the Free music school, at one of whose concerts he stands at the conductor’s stand, for 12 years he has been working in the Court Singing Chapel, heading the Belyaev circle. The events of 1905 also found a response in conservatory circles: students demanded the resignation of the conservatory leadership, leading teaching staff, including Rimsky-Korsakov, left the educational institution. Only towards the end of the year, when the composer’s student was appointed director A.K. Glazunov, he returned to his native walls.
Already at the end of his life, Rimsky-Korsakov received international recognition, performing as a composer and conductor at the “Russian Historical Concerts” at the Paris Grand Opera. The concerts were organized by his student, S.P. Diaghilev. As a professor of composition, he became a mentor to many outstanding musicians, including I.F. Stravinsky And S.S. Prokofiev. In the spring of 1908, Nikolai Andreevich’s heart disease sharply worsened. And yet he never left work for a day. Last summer he met in his own estate in the Pskov region. On June 8, 1908, the composer died.
Interesting facts about Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov
- During Nikolai's training in the Naval Cadet Corps as director educational institution Voin Andreevich, his brother, was appointed.
- Rimsky-Korsakov could write music without an instrument. Thus, most of the opera Servilia was written during the composer’s trip abroad with his wife, when the piano was not available to him.
- The "Mighty Handful" disbanded by 1874. Moreover, the paths of its members diverged both creatively and personally: Rimsky-Korsakov stopped communicating closely with Mussorgsky, and relations with Cui and Balakirev cooled down to the point of complete hostility.
- In 1898, the Rimsky-Korsakov couple was invited to the Moscow apartment of L.N. Tolstoy. A fierce dispute about art arose between the writer and the composer. Tolstoy argued that all music is harmful and shameful, and Nikolai Andreevich opposed him no less harshly.
- Rimsky-Korsakov is the 26th most frequently performed opera composer in the world. Last season, productions of his operas were performed more than 650 times. The most performed work is “The Tsar’s Bride”; it is one of the hundred most popular operas in the world.
- St. Petersburg Conservatory, where N.A. taught for more than 35 years. Rimsky-Korsakov now bears his name.
- Production " The Tsar's Bride"actually saved the Moscow Private Opera from complete ruin and collapse. S.I. Mamontov was under arrest at that time and was declared bankrupt.
- In 1910, as part of the Russian Seasons, Mikhail Fokin staged the ballet “” to the music of Rimsky-Korsakov’s suite at the Paris Grand Opera. In 1993, the ballet was revived in Russia, and since 1994 it has been in the repertoire of the Mariinsky Theater.
- The composer treated only two of his operas with great love and absolute satisfaction - “ Snow Maiden" and "The Tsar's Bride".
- Rimsky-Korsakov's two most eminent students, Stravinsky and Prokofiev, had mixed reviews of his studies. Igor Fedorovich loved his teacher as a human being, but did not find depth in his music and did not share his atheistic beliefs. Sergei Sergeevich considered classes with the master superficial; he lacked mutual communication. That is why Prokofiev did not call himself a student of Rimsky-Korsakov. At the same time, the music of “The Legend...” and “The Snow Maiden” shocked and creatively inspired the young composer.
- Mariinsky Theater honors historical connections with the works of Rimsky-Korsakov: its current repertoire includes 8 operas by the composer and the ballet Scheherazade.
- Of the 10 representatives of the sixth generation of the composer’s descendants, only two – Andrei Vladimirovich and Alexander Vladimirovich – bear his last name. They are the great-great-grandchildren of Vladimir Nikolaevich, his third son. Among the great-great-grandchildren of N.A. himself Rimsky-Korsakov - Olga Favorskaya, singer and composer.
The works of Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov
One of the most striking features N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov was incredible ability to the perception of experience. It is generally accepted that the basis of his creativity is folk culture. This is true, but aren’t Balakirev’s ideas audible in his First Symphony, in early work– influence of Liszt and Schubert? Isn't it called " The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh..." Russian "Parsifal"?
In modern perception, Rimsky-Korsakov is primarily the author of many popular operas. But from the moment of formation " Mighty bunch“And until the end of the 80s of the 19th century, contemporaries saw him primarily as a symphonist. This is fair from the point of view that after the 80s the composer completely focused on opera genre. And before that, he created several major symphonic works. He wrote his first symphony (1862-1865) before all his fellow kuchkists. It became the second symphony written by Russian composers. But, according to Ts. Cui, the first truly Russian. It traces the harmony of national music, and one of its parts is written on the theme of a folk song. In the following symphonic works, the composer continued to develop Slavic melodies.
In 1867, Rimsky-Korsakov first turned to the plot of the ancient Russian epic “Sadko” - a symphonic picture of the same name was written. After which work began on the Second Symphony. The plot was a fairy tale - another creative symbol of the composer. Years later, he would rename his brainchild the symphonic suite “ Antar" In the early 1870s, the Third Symphony was written, which was not very successful, and in the mid-80s it was completely reworked.
In 1873, the premiere of the composer’s first opera, “ Pskov woman" However, he was not entirely satisfied with the result of his work and returned to it for almost another 20 years, rewriting individual fragments. And in 1897 he created “Boyaryna Vera Sheloga,” a prologue to “The Pskov Woman.” It is noteworthy that the composer wrote the libretto for this and many subsequent operas independently. " May night", published in 1880, opens a new stage in the work of Rimsky-Korsakov. His conservatory studies were not in vain - he mastered counterpoint, began to better understand the principles of orchestration, and expanded his knowledge in the field of folk songs. Almost immediately after “May Night” appears “ Snow Maiden" - an opera based on the fairy tale of the same name by A.N. Ostrovsky. Nikolai Andreevich personally agreed with the playwright to use his plot for the libretto. The opera was written in the summer in the village of Stelevo. The composer was inspired by nature, simple life, and surroundings. This is probably why “The Snow Maiden” was written in just 2.5 months. Already on February 10, 1881, its premiere took place at the Mariinsky Theater, rather unsuccessful, although warmly received by A.N. Ostrovsky.
The next decade passed in work on symphonic works, the most famous of which were “ Spanish capriccio" And " Scheherazade", and also - above the latest operas of your friends: " Khovanshchina» M.P. Mussorgsky and " Prince Igor» A.P. Borodin, which remained unfinished after their death. He dedicates the Sunday Overture for orchestra, written in 1888, to Mussorgsky and Borodin. The composer is also reworking his early works. Only 8 years after “The Snow Maiden” his name appears on premiere posters again: the opera-ballet “ Mlada».
At the turn of the century, Rimsky-Korsakov created most of his operas. In 1895, " Christmas Eve" Gogol's plot was used two decades earlier P.I. Tchaikovsky in the opera "Blacksmith Vakula" (after reworking - "Cherevichki"), at the same time Rimsky-Korsakov became interested in him. Nikolai Andreevich considered his colleague’s work weak, but during Tchaikovsky’s lifetime he did not dare to take on this story, so as not to provoke a conflict situation. After the sudden death of Pyotr Ilyich, he immediately set to work. Contemporaries compared “The Night Before Christmas” with his previous operas and, alas, not in favor of the latter.
Despite the failure, the composer takes the epic plot already familiar to him - “Sadko”. This time the creation of the libretto was entrusted to V.I. Belsky, with whom they worked on the previous opera. This creative duo will continue in the future. " Sadko"was written with inspiration, it was started in Vechash - an estate in the Pskov region, which the Rimsky-Korsakovs rented for the summer. The beauty of these places was exceptionally conducive to creativity. In the fall of 1896, the opera was completed and published. But the Mariinsky Theater refused to stage it - this was the decision of Emperor Nicholas II himself. However, the composer met a major industrialist and philanthropist S.I. Mamontov, who had his own opera in Moscow. Mamontov turned out to be a fan of his art and staged “Sadko” at the beginning of 1898. The prime minister was a great success. The performance designer was K.A. Korovin, and the part of the Varangian guest was performed by F.I. Chaliapin.
Having found support in the person of Mamontov, Rimsky-Korsakov creates a one-act opera “ Mozart and Salieri"on Pushkin's plot and begins to implement his long-standing idea - " To the Tsar's Bride» based on the drama L.A. Meya. This is one of his few operas based on a realistic plot. It was written in 10 months and less than a year later, at the end of 1899, staged by the Moscow Private Russian Opera in the scenery of M.A. Vrubel. The master’s new work was so different from the rest that he was accused of departing from the principles of the “Mighty Handful” and returning to the traditional operatic form– with cantilena and arias. However, Nikolai Andreevich wanted to see this story exactly like this - with melodious monologues and complete voice ensembles. Even his wife was among the irreconcilable critics of the opera. Nevertheless, the public accepted The Tsar's Bride better than all his previous works. And the beauty of the lyrical melodies ensured their popularity and recognition.
On the centenary of the birth of A.S. The composer timed Pushkin " The Tale of Tsar Saltan", written in collaboration with Belsky and continuing the series fairy tales, started by "The Snow Maiden". The opera turned out to be bright and joyful, was well received by the public, and was among the author’s favorites. Staged by the Moscow private opera in 1900. Subsequent works – “ Servilia" And " Pan Voevoda"were, in the words of Rimsky-Korsakov himself, very average. And fate " Kashchei the Immortal" - truly dramatic. The Moscow premiere of the opera, based on a plot so uncharacteristic for the composer, in which evil triumphs over good, was warmly received by the public. The St. Petersburg production by conservatory students took place on March 27, 1905 and turned into a political manifesto against the actions of the authorities on January 9. After this, most of the composer's works were banned from performance.
Despite the composition of three operas, the period of the early 1900s was marked by the main event - preparations for writing " Tales of the invisible city of Kitezh and the maiden Fevronia " The libretto was completed by 1903. It took just over a year to write the music and orchestrate it. On February 7, 1907, the premiere took place at the Mariinsky Theater. Different historical sources give contrasting opinions about the audience's reaction - from a grandiose reception to bewilderment at the excessive seriousness and leisurely pace of plot development. It was unanimously noted that the libretto by V.I. Belsky - unique for musical theater sample of independent literary work. Many critics call him the best in Russian music. “The Legend…” is rightfully considered the pinnacle of the composer’s work and one of the most outstanding operas of the 20th century.
His last opera, " Golden Cockerel", Nikolai Andreevich never saw him on stage. Too spicy political satire the libretto did not give her the opportunity to overcome the censorship ban. Two days before his death, the composer received official letter Directorate of the Imperial Theaters to refuse the production. Only in 1909, this satirical opera of rare beauty was shown in Moscow with cuts to which Rimsky-Korsakov would never have agreed. The creative heritage of the great composer, in addition to works of large forms, includes vocal compositions, collections of Russian songs and books.
Basic melodies by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov, in demand by cinema - “Flight of the Bumblebee” from the opera “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” and “Aria of the Indian Guest” from “Sadko”. The composer's music is heard in more than one and a half hundred films, the most notable of which are:
- Long live Caesar! (2016)
- 1+1 (2011)
- Brokeback Mountain (2005)
- Glitter (1996)
- Casino (1995)
- Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)
- A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Series
- Theory big bang(2007-present)
- How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
- The Master and Margarita (2005)
- Colombo (1971-2003)
- The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
1953 Soviet film "Rimsky-Korsakov"- the only biopic about the life of the great composer. It was filmed at the Lenfilm studio by Gennady Kazansky and Grigory Roshal based on the biography of Rimsky-Korsakov. The title role was played by Grigory Belov, the remaining roles were played by outstanding artists of their time - N. Cherkasov, A. Borisov, L. Gritsenko, L. Sukharevskaya. The film tells about the second half of the composer's life; a lot of screen time is devoted to music - scenes from major operas are shown. Unfortunately, the scenario did not escape the political situation - great attention is devoted to revolutionary sentiments and events of 1905, and entrepreneurs Mamontov and Diaghilev are depicted in a negative light.
Film adaptations of operas There is also almost no composer. In the 1950s they were created animated films"The Night Before Christmas" and "The Snow Maiden", as well as feature film A. Ptushko “Sadko”, in which the music of the operas of the same name sounded. In the 1960s, director Vladimir Gorikker released two opera films: “Mozart and Salieri” and “The Tsar’s Bride.” Several DVD versions also exist theatrical productions: “Sadko” by the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theaters, “The Tsar’s Bride” by the German State Opera and others.
N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov was not only an original creator, but also a master of orchestration, without whom we would not have known either “Prince Igor” or part of the works Mussorgsky And Dargomyzhsky. He remained true to his understanding of Russian music until the end of his days and became one of the last representatives of the great Russian musical culture 19th century.
Video: watch a film about Rimsky-Korsakov