Composer Rimsky-Korsakov: list of works. Rimsky-Korsakov Nikolai Andreevich: operas, symphonic works, romances

Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) - a great Russian composer, naval officer, teacher, active member of the "Mighty Handful", the ideological inspiration of which was VV Stasov. The principles followed by the composers, who took Russian folklore as their model, later transferred Rimsky-Korsakov to their pedagogical classes at the St. Petersburg Conservatory.

Brief overview of creativity

Nikolai Andreevich wrote, as he believed himself, a lot. Indeed, these are fifteen operas, three symphonies and other symphonic forms (suites, cantatas, concerts, capriccio, overtures), vocal compositions. Such is the brief list of his works. Rimsky-Korsakov in his later years with sadness said that it would be insulting if it is forgotten. But no, his works are loved and in demand by listeners.

Childhood and youth

Nikolai Andreevich was born into a nobleman's family in the district town of Tikhvin. His elder brother (the difference in age was huge - 22 years) was a naval officer, and little Kolya dreamed of sea voyages, and while six years old he received a home education. He gradually played the piano and even composed, but he was beckoned to the sea. Father supported this dream and at the age of 12 he gave his son to the Marine Cadet Corps in St. Petersburg. Here he became acquainted with Italian and German operas, and he began to attract music uncontrollably. At the age of 15 he began to seriously study the piano. His teacher introduced the gifted young man to the members of the "Mighty Handful" circle in 1859.

First works

At the same time, under the guidance of M. A. Balakirev, Nikolai Alexandrovich began to work on the First Symphony, which opens his list of works. Rimsky-Korsakov seriously began to compose it in 1861-1862. He wrote the first part, the scherzo and the finale. Orchestrated very badly, because there was no time for music lessons. Rimsky-Korsakov graduated from the Marine Corps and went to sea. He still tried to write andante, but for three years postponed his work, regularly performing the service on the clipper "Almaz". During these years he saw half the world, and marine impressions later appear in orchestral works. When Nikolay Alexandrovich returned in 1865, he finished work on his symphony, purely Russian in spirit, filled with themes of folk songs. The Andante with the song "Tatarsky Full" is especially notable. Its first edition was performed under the baton of Milii Aleksandrovich Balakirev. In 1884, Rimsky-Korsakov returned to work on it. Symphony 1 was re-orchestrated. In such a changed form it is performed even today.

New colors of the composer

The national flavor in music, which all the members of the "Mighty Handful" loved so much, was reflected in the "Overture on Three Russian Themes" created in 1866, in 1867 in "The Serbian Fantasy" and in the musical picture "Sadko". This picture is a stage in the life of a young composer. Here he will find what will later be called the "Rimsky-Korsakov gamut", which beautifully reflected the orchestral colors of the elements of the sea and the fantastic underwater world. The theme "Sadko" will later be present in the opera of the same name.

Gravitation to a fairy tale

The fairy tale was continued in the symphonic suite "Antar", in which the complexity of the melody and rhythm of the triplets was used. This creates the author's desired eastern sound. The composer twice returned to work on the eastern fairy tale, until he achieved the desired result.

Marriage

In 1871-1872, twenty-four-year-old Nikolai Alexandrovich worked on his first opera "The Pskovian," which consists of three acts and six paintings. In this work he is helped a lot by a young girl Nadezhda Nikolayevna Purgold, an experienced pianist and a novice composer. There is an inevitable. Young people fell in love. This feeling they will carry through all life, having consolidated it in 1872 a wedding. In 1873, the drama "Pskovityanka" was staged at the Mariinsky Theater under the direction of E. Napravnik and the birth of his son Mikhail.

Transformation of the First Opera

But this was not the final version of the historical drama, written by Rimsky-Korsakov. "Pskovityanka" has three scores. Work on it lasted about twenty-five years. Initially, all the members of the "Mighty Handful" had an influence on the young author, in particular M. Mussorgsky, who at that time was writing his Godunov. The themes and motives, cleared of everyday elements, were reflected by each composer in the form of the struggle between good and evil, personal and state. The narrative in opera is low-key, epic. The author deliberately refused the abundance of arias and ensembles, approaching the recitative. The Opera was repeatedly staged in Russia, and in Italy, and in Spain, and in Belgium. In Paris she was a huge success in the Russian seasons of Diaghilev.

All seventies are devoted to active pedagogical activity and self-education.

The flowering of creativity

The creative ascent of the composer leads to the fact that his list of works is being replenished. Rimsky-Korsakov in 1880 creates the opera "May Night", which was staged at the Mariinsky Theater under the direction of E. Napravnik. This work is written on the proposal of his then-bride. She dedicated her work to Rimsky-Korsakov. Opera "May Night" presents the listener with lyrical, comedy and fantasy scenes. It is based on folk song creativity.

In the spring of 1880, after talking with A.N. Ostrovsky and received permission to enter the libretto of the opera "Snow Maiden" changes, Rimsky-Korsakov begins work. It goes easily. The whole nature in Stelevo's estate inspires him. Even the echo sounded to him like a voice of a woodcutter or other forest monsters. Much attention was paid by Rimsky-Korsakov to the predominance in the musical work of sounds that are close to the range of a musical instrument or vocals. And it turned out a poetic miracle, to which the first was enthusiastically treated by A. Ostrovsky himself. Opera Rimsky-Korsakov "Snow Maiden" is imbued with freshness, simplicity and purity of folk songs, laudatory hymns blossoming spring. Orchestral introduction to the prologue describes the spring awakening of nature. Easy and graceful is one of the first arias of the Snow Maiden ("... for the berries to walk"), the lyrically penetrating her arietta "I Heard, I Have Heard." Scene "Seeing the carnival" contains folk-song choral episodes. The first act begins with a slow and lively song of Lelia, then a cheerful dance and continues with the gentle, sad Arietta Snegurochka "How it hurts here," Kupava's enthusiastic, impetuous tale "Snow Maiden, I'm Happy". In the second act the main place is taken by the solemn epic glory of Berendey "Hello to you, wise". A dreamy, poetic Cavatina Berendeye pours calmly. The third act is opened with a cheerful round dance "Ai, in the field of a liponka". Symphonic episode "Dance of buffoons" is full of brightness of orchestral colors, fascinating rhythms. Wide, the melody from the third song of Lelia is satisfied. "The cloud conspired with thunder". In the fourth act, the lyrical feelings of the Snow Maiden grow. In the scene of the melting of the heroine, her image is fragile and tender. Opera Rimsky-Korsakov "Snow Maiden" ends with a majestic radiant choir.

Virtuoso violin piece

In 1887, AP Borodin died unexpectedly for all. His "Prince Igor" was not finished. Glazunov and Rimsky-Korsakov undertook a great deal of work on the analysis of manuscripts and the completion of work on the opera. In the summer they worked at the dacha, but for Nikolai Andreevich the work was interrupted. He came up with a thought that did not leave him: to compose a virtuosic violin fantasy on the Spanish theme. The Spanish capriccio of the composer is a suite, which consists of 5 parts. They go, without interruption, and draw pictures of life and nature of Spain, its holidays and folk characters. Capriccio - composition for the orchestra with a change of timbres and a careful selection of melodic drawings. The first part - "Alborada" - is based on the Asturian melody and welcomes the rising morning sun. After a pause, the "Variations" of the second part go. They are based on the evening dance, which ended the day in Asturias. The melody has a pastoral character, but then it starts to sound powerfully, pathetically and gradually fades away. The third part returns the listener to the first topic - "Alborada". But the sound is now more vivid and powerful. The fourth part is a passionate Andalusian song-dance. It opens with fanfare and drums, then alternately solo a violin, a flute, a clarinet and a harp. Everything comes to the end with a temperamental gypsy dance. The final fifth part - "Asturian fandago" - is performed by the entire composition of the orchestra, but it immediately hears trombones. It is magnificent and impetuous, striking with power and grandeur of dancing. The author returns to the topic from the third part, and the code repeats the beginning - it sounds very fast, violent alborada.

Great storyteller

Since 1895, the composer's thoughts constantly turn to fairytale and dramatic themes. Their incarnation begins with Gogol's charming fairy tale about the blacksmith Vakula and the whimsical beauty Oksana. This is how "The Night Before Christmas" appears. The opera was conceived as a fantastic fairy tale, in which Nikolai Andreevich included many recycled carols. They strengthen the elements that convey the authentic life of the Little Russian village. Overture to the first act immediately immerses the listener in the frosty Ukrainian night. The mood that four acts imbued with varies depending on the characters. The fond of the charitable Damn and Solokha, the colorful suitors Solokhi - Chub, Head and Diak. Wretched sorcerer Patsyuk. In the fourth act, scenes of everyday life, having a comic tinge, alternate lyrically. And in the finale the chorus "In memory of Gogol" sounds powerful.

The Novgorod epic

After completing his work, Nikolai Andreevich immediately in the same year of 1895 adopted the following work. Now he completely immersed himself in the world of the northern epics. Fantastic with everyday elements of the epic of the Russian people was reflected in the next opera. In the head there is a new scale, which will give her a fabulous and exotic sound. Inspiringly, the opera "Sadko" begins to be written. Rimsky-Korsakov refused to divide it into actions and intermissions, composing it from seven paintings. The composer tried to create an epic work with a smooth flow of action, which was supposed to recall the spirit of folk tales of the past. It begins with the grand entry of the orchestra, which gives a picture of the Sea-Ocean. The first picture is a large choral scene, which the buffoons end with their dances. The second picture takes place on the bank of the Ilmen Lake, where Sadko and Princess Volkhov are forgiven. Their love duet takes place against the backdrop of echoes of the dances of the dwellers of the underwater kingdom. The third picture shows the suffering of the abandoned Lubava. Her recitative and aria are filled with deep sorrow. In the fourth picture, a wide action takes place on the wharf. The appearance of Sadko, as well as the Varangian guest with his courageous song, the Indian and Vedenet guests, is prepared in a chorus. And, finally, Sadko sings a broad and lingering Russian song, which everyone picks up. The fourth picture ends with universal rejoicing. The fifth and sixth paintings are painted with musical means by sea-ocean.
Sadko sings a light majestic song "The blue sea is formidable, wide." He takes hold of the harp, and everyone embarks on a violent dance. Because of this, a storm broke out on the sea, and ships began to sink. The elderly warrior knocks out the gusli at Sadko, and he sends him and Princess Volkhov to Novgorod. The final picture is a gentle farewell to the Volkhov, which should turn into a river, with Sadko, and his meeting with his wife Lyubava. Their joyful duet sounds. A powerful chorus completes the opera. Everyone sings the glory of Sadko, the Volkhov River and the blue sea-ocean. "Sadko" is included in his most executed list of works. Rimsky-Korsakov since the time of M. Glinka most fully expressed in it the national Russian style. And what distinguishes this opera most from the whole series written by Nikolai Andreevich is the epic recitative.

Vocal compositions

Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov repeatedly created choral compositions and romances for his creative life. They are written about eighty. But now we will pay attention to the chamber piece - the oriental romance ("Seized by a Rose, Nightingale"), created on the words of A. Koltsov. He refers to the composer's first experiments in this field. This is a languorous elegiac work. The melody is fresh, but the form is free. In it there is an element of improvisation. The piano part determined its character, and the vocal requires expressiveness in the pronunciation of the text. In later works, vocal is the basis, followed by a piano accompaniment.

Conclusion

NA Rimsky-Korsakov left a huge legacy. But his personality was most fully revealed in operas. They show his passionate love for the features of the national Russian character, for the history and life of the people, for his poetic ideas and customs. The drama legend "The Tale of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia", which tells about the events of the Tatar invasion, and the tale-satire "The Golden Cockerel", to which he responded to the revolutionary events of 1905, belong to the last period of his creative work.

The composer died in 1908 and is buried in St. Petersburg.