Ma vie musicale

Ma vie musicale by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov plunges listeners into the vivid memoirs of the Russian master whose orchestral color and pedagogy transformed late 19th-century music. Part biography, part musical history, these autobiographical recollections trace Rimsky-Korsakov’s rise from provincial beginnings to the international triumph of works like Snegurochka, and his central role in the “New Russian School” and the circle known as The Five. Rich with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, professional reflections, and clear discussions of counterpoint, harmony, and orchestration, Ma vie musicale maps the artistic debates, concerts, and personalities that shaped Tsarist-era Russian music. Rimsky-Korsakov writes as both practitioner and teacher—offering technical insight without losing warmth—making complex craft accessible while preserving the human stories of composers, performers, and critics around him. Ideal for biography and music listeners, composers, conservatory students, and anyone curious about the birth of modern Russian classical music, this audiobook combines historical perspective with practical lessons in composition and orchestration. Listen to understand how a single artist helped define a national sound and to enjoy witty, enlightening reminiscences from one of music’s great storytellers.