In 1866 began Korsakov’s friendship with Moussorgsky, which lasted until the latter’s death in 1881. From then on, for the next few years, he worked hard at musical composition. It was during this time that he first began to turn his attention to opera, of which “Pskovitianka,” begun in 1870, was the first. In 1871 Rimsky-Korsakov was appointed a professor in the Conservatory at Petrograd. Two years later he decided to sever his connection with the Navy altogether. This year also saw the beginning of his collection of folk songs, which were published in 1877. The year before this, Korsakov had married. His wife was Nadejda Pourgold, the talented Russian pianist. In 1874 the composer was made director of the Free School of Music at Petrograd, which position he filled until 1881. His second opera, “A Night in May,” was finished in 1878. He began another opera, “The Snow Maiden,” two years later. His operas, however, always attracted less attention abroad than his symphonies. In 1883 he was appointed assistant director of the Imperial Chapel at Petrograd. This post was held by him for eleven years. Two years later he was offered the directorship of the Conservatory in Moscow, but he declined it. In 1886 he became director of the Russian symphony concerts. Three years later he appeared in Paris and conducted two concerts. He was enthusiastically received, and entertained at a banquet. In 1894 Rimsky-Korsakov gave up the assistant directorship of the Imperial Chapel. He was now at work upon an opera in which the element of humor predominated. This was “Christmas Eve Revels.” It was produced at the Maryinsky Theater in Petrograd in 1895. Korsakov continued to work at opera, producing, among others, “Sadko,” “The Czar’s Betrothed,” “The Tale of Czar Saltan,” “Servilia,” “Kostchei the Deathless,” “Pan Voyvoda,” and “Kitej.” His last opera, “The Golden Cock,” was censored during the interval between its composition and the composer’s death. It was not until May, 1910, that it was produced at Moscow. It is supposed that chagrin at the fate of this opera contributed to the suddenness of Rimsky-Korsakov’s death, which occurred on June 20, 1908. “In him we see,” says one writer, “the Russian who, though not by any means satisfied with Russia as he finds it, does not set himself to hurl a series of passionate but ineffective indictments against things as they are, but who raises an ideal and does his utmost to show how best that ideal may be attained.” PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR, VOL. 4, No. 18, SERIAL No. 118 COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC. [Illustration: IGOR STRAVINSKY] _RUSSIAN MUSIC_ _Igor Stravinsky_ SIX