Rimsky-Korsakov - Capriccio Espagnol

Rimsky-Korsakov - Capriccio Espagnol

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) was not only one of Russia’s great composers but also a gifted arranger. Throughout his career, he helped arrange other composers’ new pieces. His own compositions are remembered for their enchanting melodies. One of his most famous is the virtuoso Flight of the Bumblebee, which challenges the musicians to play the piece as fast as possible without stumbling over the notes. His magnum opus is Sheherazade, a four-part suite based on the folktale collection One Thousand and One Nights. Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol is a masterful evocation of Spanish music. As in Sheherazade, the solo violin takes center stage in this composition. Capriccio Espagnol is based on a collection of Spanish songs and dances; a musical trip performed by the London City Orchestra conducted by Pablo Urbina.