Tchaikovsky
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Nadezhda Rimskaia-Korsakova (1848–1919)

Nadezhda Rimskaia-Korsakova

Russian pianist, composer, and writer (b. 19/31 October 1848 in Saint Petersburg; d. 11/24 May 1919 in Saint Petersburg), born Nadezhda Nikolaevna Purgol'd (Надежда Николаевна Рургольд, Nadežda Nikolaevna Purgol'd, Nadezhda Nikolayevna Purgold); known after her marriage as Nadezhda Nikolaevna Rimskaia-Korsakova (Надежда Николаевна Римская-Корсакова, Nadežda Nikolaevna Rimskaja-Korsakova, Nadezhda Nikolayevna Rimskaya-Korsakova).

Nadezhda began to play the piano at the age of nine, and in the mid–1860s she studied at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory under Anton Gerke for piano, Nikolai Zaremba for music theory, and later Nikolai Rimskii-Korsakov (1844–1908) for composition and orchestration. The latter became her husband in 1872, after which she concentrated less on composition, and more on arrangements and proof-reading.

In 1871 her transcription of Tchaikovsky's overture-fantasia Romeo and Juliet for piano duet was published by Bote and Bock in Berlin, although ill health prevented her from providing a similar service for his Symphony No. 2, which in 1872 she had apparently begged Tchaikovsky 'with tears in her eyes' to arrange for piano duet.

Works dedicated to Nadezhda Rimskaia-Korsakova:

• Cradle Song—No. 1 of the Six Romances, Op. 16 (1872–73).