Cui, Cesar 1835 - 1918
Author: Miyamoto, Yumi
Last updated：May 1, 2007
Author: Miyamoto, Yumi
French-Russian composer and critic. A member of The Mighty Handful (The Five). In his youth, he received lessons in piano, harmony, and counterpoint, but in 1851, he entered the Saint Petersburg Engineering School, and from 1855, he studied at the Military Engineering Academy. His specialty was fortification.
In 1856, he met Balakirev, and together with Rimsky-Korsakov and others, he became active in the Saint Petersburg music scene. Balakirev considered Cui's orchestration 'amateurish,' and actively involved himself in works such as operas.
As a critic, he rejected music by composers outside his circle, and disliked Tchaikovsky and Anton Rubinstein.
His major works include:
- Operas such as The Prisoner of the Caucasus and The Captain's Daughter
- Children's operas such as Puss in Boots
- Piano miniatures
- Collections of pieces for violin and piano
- Songs
Works(37)
Piano Solo (15)
pieces (11)
prelude (3)
variation (3)
waltz (3)
Piano Ensemble (2)
scherzo (2)
pieces (2)