Anatoly Lyadov was a Russian composer known for his orchestral works and piano pieces that are finely crafted and poetic. His music gained him an important place in Russian Romantic music. He was especially admired for his polished piano miniatures, which show his delicate style and care in composition. Lyadov's works stand out for their beauty and charm within the Russian Romantic tradition. Lyadov was the son of the conductor of the imperial opera. He began his studies at the conservatory in 1870, learning composition under Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov. However, he was expelled in 1876 for being idle. Two years later, in 1878, he was allowed back into the conservatory. He later took on several teaching roles at both the conservatory and the imperial chapel. From 1897, much of his time was spent arranging folk songs collected by the Imperial Geographical Society. Until around 1900, he mostly composed piano music. After 1900, Lyadov focused more on orchestral music. He wrote two of his best-known pieces, Kikimora and The Enchanted Lake. These works were based on sketches for a fantastic opera that he never finished. Although the full opera was never completed, these orchestral pieces show his ability to create vivid musical pictures and maintain a fairy-tale like atmosphere.