Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Donald Macleod surveys the life and work of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Rimsky-Korsakov’s music is filled with lush orchestration and hints of orientalism and folk music. These elements and his role as a leading member of “The Mighty Handful” of composers who sought to forge a truly nationalistic music have led him to be regarded as the main architect of the Russian style of composition we know today. We hear about Rimsky Korsakov’s lifelong relationship with the sea, his fascination with myths and folklore, the acts of rebellion which pepper his life, his changing religious beliefs and his carefully constructed legacy.

Music featured: By the Sea, Op 46: The Wave Breaks into a Spray Scheherazade (I. The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship) From Homer Op.60 Symphony No 1 (II. Andante tranquillo) Sadko, Op. 6 Trombone Concerto (I. Allegro Vivace) Captivated by the Rose, the Nightingale (4 Songs, Op 2 No 2) Antar: IV. Allegretto - Adagio Skazka, Op 29 Capriccio Espagnol, Op 34 Hymn to the Sun from The Golden Cockerel Allegro in B flat major (Les Vendredis, Book II) Overture on Russian Themes, Op 28 Symphony No 3: II. Scherzo Kashchey the Immortal: Tableau 3 Suite from “The Golden Cockerel”: IV. Wedding Feast – Death of King Dodon - Finale Octave (5 Songs “To the Poet”, Op 45) May Night: Overture Snow Maiden: Act IV Finale Russian Easter Festival Overture Chants for Holy Week The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya Suite: I. Hymn to Nature Flight of the Bumblebee (Tsar Saltan) Maid of Pskov – Overture Night on the Bare Mountain Polonaise (Christmas Eve Suite) Mlada: Act III, Scenes 2 and 3 Mozart & Salieri: Scene 2 (extract) Upon the hills of Georgia, Op 3 Presenter: Donald Macleod Producer: Sam Phillips for BBC Wales

For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001n89

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z