**Scheherazade**, composed in 1888 by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, is one of the most beloved works in the Russian classical repertoire. Under the baton of Aziz Shokhakimov, the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra performs this symphonic suite inspired by _One Thousand and One Nights_, offering an enchanting journey to the East.
In 1888, Rimsky-Korsakov, then 44 years old, was a leading figure in Saint Petersburg’s musical scene. Interrupting his orchestration of _Prince Igor_, left unfinished by his late friend Borodin, he swiftly composed _Scheherazade_, deeply rooted in Orientalist culture and based on the legendary tales of _One Thousand and One Nights_.
Betrayed by his wife, Sultan Shahryar vows to marry a new woman each evening and have her executed the next morning to prevent further infidelity. Scheherazade, the vizier’s daughter, saves her own life by telling him a story so captivating he delays her execution night after night until he abandons his plan. In the music, Scheherazade is embodied by a solo violin and harp, whose sinuous and seductive lines evoke the charm of the storyteller. Each movement portrays a different episode from the tale.
Premiered in Paris in 1899 at the Concerts Lamoureux, the piece made a strong impression on Debussy and Ravel, who drew inspiration from it for _La Mer_ and _Daphnis et Chloé_. In 1910, choreographer Michel Fokine adapted it into a ballet performed by Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes at the Palais Garnier, a performance that captivated Marcel Proust and echoes in _In Search of Lost Time_.
**Movements:**
1. _The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship_ (Largo e maestoso / Allegro non troppo)
2. _The Tale of the Kalendar Prince_ (Lento / Andantino / Allegro molto / Con moto)
3. _The Young Prince and the Young Princess_ (Andantino quasi allegretto / Pochissimo più mosso / Come prima / Pochissimo più animato)
4. _Festival at Baghdad / The Sea / The Ship Breaks Against a Cliff Surmounted by a Bronze Horseman_ (Allegro molto / Vivo / Allegro non troppo maestoso)