Russian composer who was influenced as much by Bizet and Massenet as by Russian folk music, and whose idol was Mozart.

Unlike most of his Russian contemporaries, he never sought to adapt folk material. Although his output was uneven, he wrote great works in almost every musical genre. He was a subtle and original melodist and harmonist, his music directly expressing his own passionate and often melancholy nature.

He died of Cholera just after the first performance of his greatest symphony, the 'pathetique'. His music is strongly emotional, his life unusual.

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