Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Capriccio Espagnol”: Color, Atmosphere, and Virtuosity
Completed in 1887, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34 is a dazzling kaleidoscope of orchestral color, atmosphere, and instrumental virtuosity. It is the work of a self-trained composer, who became one the the greatest innovators of orchestration. As a teacher, Rimsky-Korsakov led the St. Petersburg Conservatory. His influence on Russian music extended to his students, who included Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and Respighi. In Italian, “capriccio” means “whim.” Based on Spanish folk songs and dances, …