Cui was a full-time professor of fortification at the Academy of Military Engineering, where future Tsar Nicholas II was among his students.
Composer Biography
César Cui, a prolific Russian composer, was also a lieutenant general in the Imperial Russian Army and a renowned expert on fortifications.
Cultural Impact
Cui's book, La Musique en Russie (1880), played a significant role in shaping Western opinion of the Russian nationalist school of music.
Critical Reception
Despite his historical importance and prolific output, Cui's music, particularly his piano works, has fallen into almost complete obscurity.
Composer Biography
Cui's first and last compositions were written for the piano, and his first published work was a piano duet.
Recording & Production
This recording project, initiated by pianist and musicologist Marco Rapetti, aims to make Cui's piano works accessible to a broader audience, with most pieces recorded for the first time.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Cui was considered stubbornly conservative, even parodying Debussy in one of his pieces, and his style often lacked the Russian national elements found in his critical writings.
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