César Antonovich Cui was a notable Russian composer and music critic, born on 18 January 1835 in Wilno, now Vilnius, Lithuania. He was part of a group called The Five, which aimed to create a unique Russian musical style. Despite his military career, where he became an Engineer-General, Cui’s passion for music led him to compose operas and art songs. He began studying music at a young age, learning from notable composers like Stanisław Moniuszko. His first opera, William Ratcliff, premiered in 1869 but did not succeed. However, works like The Prisoner of the Caucasus and The Mandarin’s Son gained popularity.

Cui was also a prolific music critic, writing nearly 800 articles that discussed various aspects of music and opera. He admired composers such as Liszt and Wagner but was critical of some contemporaries. His music often reflected Russian themes, particularly in his art songs, many inspired by the poetry of Alexander Pushkin. Cui passed away on 26 March 1918, leaving a significant legacy in Russian music.