Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Known as an eminent Russian theorist, he produced the orchestration treatise Principles of Orchestration in 1913, a volume that remains a standard reference. Belonging to "The Mighty Five," he helped restore the native Russian musical idiom and character throughout the later nineteenth century. Scheherazade, celebrated for its exotic imagery, flowing melodies, and balletic rhythms, became his best-known score, yet Rimsky-Korsakov himself ranked his operas highest among his achievements. Of the eight operas he composed, The Invisible City of Kitezh and The Golden Cockerel stand as under-recognized masterpieces, while Mlada displays clear Wagnerian influences. The Russian Easter Overture further illustrates his command of orchestral timbres.