Scheherazade

Scheherazade is a breathtaking symphonic suite, composed by the legendary Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. It premiered in 1888 and is based upon the popular One Thousand and One Nights, known also as The Arabian Nights, folk tales. It combines features of traditional Russian music with the unique signature compositions of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, particularly colorful and dazzling orchestration and oriental and Eastern culture. Regarded as his most popular work, it is also one of the most famous symphonies today, often watched by many live by ordering Scheherazade tickets.
 
Work on Scheherazade began when Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov was working on Prince Igor, Alexander Borodin’s incomplete opera. It was then that he was inspired to compose a piece based upon The One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, particularly their pictures as well as on other similar episodes. He began work on it while at the beautiful Cheryemenyetskoye Lake, alongside his other masterpiece, the Russian Easter Festival Overture.
 
Inspired by oriental and middle eastern folk tale and music, Scheherazade was instantly successful, being performed at some of the most famous venues. As with the Arabian Nights, it begins with the Sultan, who plans to put to death his wives, one by one. One of his wives, Scheherazade, however saves her life by telling him stories for one thousand and one nights. The sultan postpones her execution out of curiosity and soon rejects his earlier plan, mending his ways.
 
Scheherazade is thus composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov so as to tell a story, in an engaging and exciting manner, musically bringing to life the tales of the Sultana. In 1888, it premiered in Saint Petersburg, where Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov conducted the piece himself. It was immensely popular, due to its vibrant orchestral colors, fresh and inspiring melodies, an oriental flavor and a vitality that was absent in the major symphonic pieces of the time.
 
It was a flavor of its own, inspiring many more composers and is ultimately regarded as one of the best symphonic pieces of all time, one many often order Scheherazade tickets to catch live. It has been recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of the UK, the Orchestra de la Suisse Romande, the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia, the Berliner Philharmoniker and the London Symphony Orchestra amongst others.