Composer. He studied under composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and became a professor there in 1880. His pupils included composer Sergei Prokofiev. A nationalist by temperament, his important compositions, the orchestral tone poems "Baba Yaga" (1906), "The Enchanted Lake" (1906), and "Kikimore" (1908), were based on Russian folklore. Although he had unquestionable talent, Liadov also had a reputation as a lazy procrastinator. In fact, he is probably best known for a work he failed to write. In 1909 he received a commission from Serge Diaghilev to compose the ballet "The Firebird" for the second season of the Ballet Russes in Paris. As the rehearsal dates approached with no sign of the score, Diaghilev asked Liadov how it was coming along. "Fine", the composer replied. "I have just bought the music paper". The project was quickly turned over to an ambitious young unknown, Igor Stravinsky. "The Firebird" (1910) was a hit and made Stravinsky famous. Liadov died bitter and disillusioned and history has been less than kind.
Composer. He studied under composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and became a professor there in 1880. His pupils included composer Sergei Prokofiev. A nationalist by temperament, his important compositions, the orchestral tone poems "Baba Yaga" (1906), "The Enchanted Lake" (1906), and "Kikimore" (1908), were based on Russian folklore. Although he had unquestionable talent, Liadov also had a reputation as a lazy procrastinator. In fact, he is probably best known for a work he failed to write. In 1909 he received a commission from Serge Diaghilev to compose the ballet "The Firebird" for the second season of the Ballet Russes in Paris. As the rehearsal dates approached with no sign of the score, Diaghilev asked Liadov how it was coming along. "Fine", the composer replied. "I have just bought the music paper". The project was quickly turned over to an ambitious young unknown, Igor Stravinsky. "The Firebird" (1910) was a hit and made Stravinsky famous. Liadov died bitter and disillusioned and history has been less than kind.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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