César Cui was a Russian composer, music critic, and part of The Five, a group that worked to create music with a Russian style. He also had a successful career in the army, becoming a high-ranking officer and writing books about military fortifications.

Cui wrote many types of music, including songs, music for small groups of instruments, and operas. He is best known for his art songs like The Statue at Tsarskoye Selo and The Burnt Letter, based on poems by Pushkin. He also wrote operas, such as Puss in Boots and The Captain’s Daughter, which mix Russian and European styles.

Although not as famous as some of his peers in The Five, Cui’s music is praised for its beautiful melodies and ability to capture emotion, especially in his songs and piano pieces. His work shows a different side of Russian music in the 19th century.