Favourite Russian Composers Collection

I'm going to add more composers in due course!

M.A.Balakirev (1837-1910)

A mathematician and the leader of the national Russian school,his works include forms of folk music,which influenced many Russian composers such as Borodin and Rimsky-Korsakov.
  • Balakirev:Hyperion

    • A.P.Borodin (1834-1887)

    originally studies medicine and became a chemist.Later he studies music under Balakirev. His works include Prince Igor(the Porovtsian Dances is one of them), In the steppes of Central Asia,
  • Prince Igor - though I never had a chance to listen to all suites of opera,Prince Igor, 'Polovtsian Dances' is very famous and intriguing piece of music with a good blend of Russian folk tunes.
  • A.Borodin
  • Borodin

    • M.M.Ippolitov-Ivanov (1859-1935)

  • The suite, Caucasian sketches op.10 is one of his best work,sadly it is not widely well-known. However,I strongly recommend this to anyone who has a soft spot for Russian music.

    • S.S.Prokofiev (1891-1953)

     Homepage

    N.A.Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)

    Originally a Naval Officer,later a professor at the St.Petersburg Conservatory,he is one of the Russian composers who was influenced by Balakirev. His woks include Sheherazade, Capriccio Espagnol,
  • Sheherazade
  • Rimsky-Korsakov Page
  • Rimsky-Korsakov by Hyperion
  • Rimsky-Korsakov

    • M.P. Musorgsky (1839-1881)

    Studied music under Balakirev.His well-known works are Pictures from an Exhibition,and Boris Godunov.
     General Links

    S.V. Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

    A pianist and composer,his well-known piano music include Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini,
  • The Rachmaninoff Society
  • Rachmaninoff

    • P.I.Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

    Originally a civil servant,later studied at the St.Petersburg Conservatory. His great masterpieces are Piano Concerto,'Pathetique'Symphony, the Nutcracker,Swan Lake.
  • Piotr Tchaikovsky
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Moscow Classic Russia)
  • P.I.Tchaikovsky by Philips Classics
  • 1812 the Overture - usually the ending of this overture is well-known as it plays along with cannons.It was inspired by Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812. For the first time listener,it comes as a bit of shock as it sounds as if the music got mingled with firing of cannons.
  • the Nutcracker - it's one of my all-time favourite, no matter what state of mental deprivation you are in, you would like listening to this light and fairly-tale alike tune, chocolate,sugar lump ,and many other delicious sweets ... It's a good source for education, and entertaining music for kids too,I used to listen to this alot whenever I felt lonely at home.
  • Symphony No.6 'Pathetique' op.74 - another my favourite! It looks as if this was full of depressing music, wrong.. This symphony contains both cheerful and sad tunes to it,and comes in repetition. Eg.Sad-happy-depressed.. tune. You'd need to listen to it at least twice to appreciate this music.
  • Piano Concerto No.1 op.23 - it is told that Tchaikovsky first presented this work to his close friend,Nikolai Rubinstein the director of Moscow Conservatory, yet what he got in response was that this was not perfect,hence needed modification.Tchaikovsky didn't give in and gave this concerto to another person who took this more enthusiastically,hereafter his friend dropped his verdict to admit that he had been wrong.This is said to be one of Tchaikovsky's best piano piece with 'Ukrainian folk music' inspiration.

    • Other Russian music sites











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    Last updated on 01/01/03