Canon
Where to start with Rimsky-Korsakov
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
OrchestralCapriccio espagnol, op. 34
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Vocal15 Russian folksongs, op. 19
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Keyboard3 Pieces, op. 15
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ChamberAllegro, for string quartet in B flat major
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StageChristmas Eve — Opera
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OrchestralRussian Easter Festival Overture, op. 36
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OrchestralSheherazade, op. 35
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OrchestralAntar — Symphonic suite
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OrchestralLe Coq d'Or Suite
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OrchestralPiano Concerto in C sharp minor, op. 30
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Vocal2 Choruses, op. 18
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Vocal2 Songs, op. 49
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Vocal2 Songs, op. 56
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Keyboard4 Pieces, op. 11
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Vocal4 Songs, op. 2
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Rimsky-Korsakov's catalogueMost Popular
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Scheherazade
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Flight of the Bumblebee (from The Tale of Tsar Saltan)
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Capriccio Espagnol
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Russian Easter Festival Overture
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Song of the Indian Guest (from Sadko)
Most Acclaimed
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Sadko (opera)
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The Golden Cockerel (opera)
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The Snow Maiden (opera)
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Scheherazade
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Mozart and Salieri (opera)
Most Weird
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The Golden Cockerelallegorical satire of tsarism — a lazy tsar who delegates everything; the government banned it; he died before he saw it performed
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Kashchey the Immortalproto-Stravinsky; harmonics that directly influenced The Firebird
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Mlada (opera-ballet)supernatural visions, pagan rituals; the most unusual of his operas
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The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezhopera — a magical city that vanishes underwater to escape the Mongols; Russia’s Parsifal
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Sadkoopera — the sea merchant who descends to the underwater kingdom; the Sea King’s daughter dances; he returns to his wife
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 81
- Orchestral
- ● Capriccio espagnol, op. 34
- ● Russian Easter Festival Overture, op. 36
- ● Sheherazade, op. 35
- Antar — Symphonic suite
- Le Coq d'Or Suite
- Piano Concerto in C sharp minor, op. 30
- At the Grave, prelude, 'In memory of M.P. Belyayev', op. 61
- Christmas Eve Suite
- Concerto in B flat major for Trombone and Military Band
- Concertstück in E flat major for Clarinet and Military Band
- Dubinushka, tone poem for orchestra and chorus ad lib, op. 62
- Dubinushka, tone poem, op. 62
- Fairy Tale, op. 29
- Fantasia on Serbian Themes, op. 6
- Fantasia on Two Russian Themes in B minor, for violin and orchestra, op. 33
- Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh
- Maid of Pskov, incidental music
- May Night: Overture
- Mlada
- Neapolitan Song, tone poem, op. 63
- Night on Mount Triglav, tone poem
- Overture on Russian Themes 2, op. 28
- Pan Voyevoda, op. 59
- Sadko, musical picture, op. 5
- Serenade, for cello and orchestra, op. 37
- Sinfonietta on Russian Themes, op. 31
- Snow Maiden
- Symphony no. 1 in E minor, op. 1
- Symphony no. 3 in C major, op. 32
- Tale of Tsar Sultan, op. 57
- The Flight of the Bumble Bee, musical picture for orchestra
- The Tsar's Bride: Overture
- Variations in G minor on a Theme by Glinka, for oboe and military band
- Zdravitsa
- Vocal
- 15 Russian folksongs, op. 19
- 2 Choruses, op. 18
- 2 Songs, op. 49
- 2 Songs, op. 56
- 4 Songs, op. 2
- 4 Songs, op. 26
- 4 Songs, op. 27
- 4 Songs, op. 3
- 4 Songs, op. 39
- 4 Songs, op. 4
- 4 Songs, op. 40
- 4 Songs, op. 42
- 4 Songs, op. 7
- 4 Variations and fughetta on a Russian folksong, for women's chorus and piano/harmonium ad lib, op. 14
- 5 Songs, op. 51
- 6 Songs, op. 8
- A Golden Little Cloud was Sleeping
- By the Sea, op. 46
- Collection of 100 Russian Songs, op. 24
- The Quiet Blue Sea, for voice and piano
- To a Greek Woman, for voice and piano
- To the Poet, op. 45
- Vesnoy, op. 43
- When the Yellow Field is Swaying, for voice and piano
- Keyboard
- 3 Pieces, op. 15
- 4 Pieces, op. 11
- 6 Variations on B-A-C-H, for piano, op. 10
- Pesenka, for piano
- Prelude-Impromptu and Mazurka, for piano, op. 38
- Chamber
- Allegro, for string quartet in B flat major
- Nocturne in F major, for 4 horns
- Quintet in B flat major, for flute, clarinet, french horn, bassoon, and piano
- Variations on a Russian Theme, for string quartet
- Stage
- Christmas Eve — Opera
- Kashchey the Immortal — Opera
- Le Coq d'Or — Opera
- Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh — Opera
- Maid of Pskov — Opera
- May Night
- Mlada
- Mozart and Salieri, op. 48 — Opera
- Sadko — Opera
- Serviliya — Opera
- Snow Maiden — Opera
- The Noblewoman Vera Sheloga, op. 54 — Opera
- The Tale of Tsar Saltan — Opera
- Tsar's Bride — Opera