Like Borodin, Nikolai Rimsky- Korsakov was not set on a career as a composer until he too met with Mili Balakirev, who made him abandon his career as a midshipman in the Imperial Russian Navy. Just as well he did switch direction, as his artistic leanings would eventually led him in to trouble with the Czarist censor. He eventually became a fierce opponent of the Romanov regime. Rimsky became a member of 'The Mighty Handful', or 'The Five', consisting of Borodin, Balakirev (the recruiting sergeant for the group), Cui, and Mussorgsky. In his travel with the navy he absorbed all sorts of musical and cultural influences, especially those of the Orient. He travelled widely, from the UK, America, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, France, Spain, Italy and Egypt. On these trips he often wrote songs, and in total he arranged over 140 traditional songs and composed 79 of his own. This 3CD set presents the bulk of his original songs. They date from 1862 to 1898, and this set fills a gap in the CD catalogue. A complete survey of these works is still a rarity even over a century after the composer's death. Further information - Some rarely heard repertoire by this much-loved composer who exerted a powerful influence over Stravinsky, and with whom Respighi studied orchestration. These delightful songs are just as rich and rewarding as his better known orchestral and operatic works - Booklet notes - All Russian performers guarantee an authentic interpretation