Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) was an outstanding Russian composer, educator, and conductor. In his 64 years, he left a significant mark on the arts, becoming renowned as a master of his craft.

Rimsky-Korsakov was born on March 18, 1844, in Tikhvin, Novgorod Province. From childhood, he showed an interest in music but chose military service, following the example of his older brother, an officer and future rear admiral.

He began his musical education at the age of six, becoming fascinated with church music and folk songs, and at 11, he wrote his first composition.

After his father's death in 1862, the family moved to St. Petersburg, where Nikolai Andreyevich met composer and educator M. A. Balakirev. Joining his circle, later known as the "Mighty Handful," he formed his aesthetic views.

From 1862 to 1865, Rimsky-Korsakov served on the clipper "Almaz," traveling to various countries, but he had little time for music.

Upon returning to St. Petersburg, he rejoined Balakirev's circle and met A.P. Borodin, L.I. Shestakova, and P.I. Tchaikovsky. Under Balakirev's influence, he continued working on his First Symphony and created such works as "Overture on Russian Themes" (1866), "Serbian Fantasy" (1867), "Sadko" (1896), and the Second Symphony ("Antar," 1868).

Rimsky-Korsakov, coming from a naval family, vividly depicted the sea element in his music. His ideas were later adopted by other composers. He had synesthesia, seeing each key in a specific color; for instance, E major was associated with blue, and he wrote all his "sea" pieces in this key.

In 1871, Rimsky-Korsakov became a professor at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, which was rare without formal education. In 1874, he became the inspector of wind orchestras for the Naval Department and director of the Free Music School, as well as began conducting symphonic concerts and opera performances.

He was called a "fairy tale teller" for his love of the fantastic world. He created a symmetrical scale known as the "Rimsky-Korsakov scale." His first opera was "The Maid of Pskov" (1872), followed by "May Night" (1879) and "The Snow Maiden" (1881).

In the early 1890s, the composer experienced a creative slump, but soon he created the operas "The Night Before Christmas" (1895), "Sadko" (1896), "Mozart and Salieri" (1897), and "The Tsar's Bride" (1898).

In 1872, Rimsky-Korsakov married Nadezhda Nikolaevna Purgold, a pianist and composer. They had seven children, two of whom died in childhood. All the children received a good musical education thanks to their parents.

During the revolutionary events of 1905-1907, the composer supported the protesting students and resigned from the conservatory, but later returned. His works were temporarily banned, but concerts still took place, and the public supported him.

Among his followers were Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Gnesin, and Taneyev. The opera "The Golden Cockerel" mocked the tsar and was banned, leading to a heart attack for the composer and his early death.

Nikolai Andreyevich died on June 21, 1908, in the village of Lyubensk, where he had an estate that has now become a museum. He is buried in St. Petersburg at the Novodevichy Cemetery, and in 1930, his remains were transferred to the Necropolis of the Masters of Arts at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.