Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844–1908) was a Russian composer and master orchestrator known for brilliantly colorful works like Scheherazade and The Flight of the Bumblebee.
In Depth
Rimsky-Korsakov was a naval officer turned composer who became the foremost Russian orchestrator of his era. His orchestral suite Scheherazade, based on One Thousand and One Nights, showcases his gift for vivid musical storytelling and dazzling instrumental color. His 15 operas, mostly based on Russian folklore and fairy tales, are staples of Russian opera houses.
His textbook Principles of Orchestration became the standard reference work and influenced generations of composers including Stravinsky, his most famous pupil. He also edited and completed works by Mussorgsky and Borodin, though his revisions are now controversial. His use of the octatonic scale and whole-tone harmonies anticipated 20th-century developments.
The famous "Flight of the Bumblebee" is actually a brief orchestral interlude from his opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan — it was never intended to be a standalone showpiece.