An exploration of the life and times of the composer who played a central role in the definition of what we know as the Russian style in music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844–1908).
The most assiduous and prolific of the Russian nationalist composers known as The Mighty Five—Mily Balakirev, Modest Mussorgsky, Alexander Borodin, César Cui were the other four—Rimsky-Korsakov developed and refined many of the ideas born in the hothouse of their collective creativity, forging a highly recognizable Russian style and passing it on to his many students.
The Bard Music Festival looks at the shape of his career, from naval officer to composer of great originality. His work and influence, both musically and politically, are examined in the context of compositions by the Mighty Five, as well as Mikhail Glinka, Alexander Glazunov, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Alexander Scriabin, Sergey Taneyev, Igor Stravinksy, Sergey Prokofiev, and many others.
Bard Music Festival weekends include orchestral concerts, chamber and choral music performances, panel discussions, special events, and opera in concert
