Anton Arensky was a Russian composer, pianist, conductor, and pedagogue, who, as if to prove the words from Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's biography (where the latter wrote that Arensky is soon to be forgotten), is not well-known nowadays. Still, without having an intention to question Rimsky-Korsakov's authority, I can't help but mention the fact that his fellow countryman and composer equally great (to say the least!) was under the strong impression of Arensky's works, one of which – Dream on the Volga – even brought tears to his eyes. Here I'm talking about Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; among other admirers of Arensky's talent was Leo Tolstoy, and his pupils include Sergei Rachmaninoff and Alexander Scryabin (expelled for poor grades from the composition course).
Here is one of large-scale works of this composer which is called Egyptian Nights. Suite for Orchestra, Op.50 (movements 1 to 3 from 7). Quite rarely one can see Russian composer turning to Egyptian motifs, and perhaps for this reason it is such a reasonably interesting piece.
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