Anatoly Lyadov (1855-1914), often spelled Liadov in older catalogues, was a Russian composer, conductor and teacher. Born in Saint Petersburg, he studied with Rimsky-Korsakov and later taught at the conservatory there.

His works include orchestral miniatures, piano pieces, songs and choral music. The Enchanted Lake, Kikimora and Baba-Yaga are among his best-known orchestral pieces.

Lyadov’s music is exquisitely crafted, colourful and concise, often drawing on fairy-tale and folk imagery. He favoured miniature perfection over large-scale ambition.

His slow working habits became almost legendary, but his finest scores are polished to a rare sheen. Lyadov’s music is a small jewelled box with moonlight inside.