Anton Arensky (1861-1906) was a Russian pianist, teacher and composer. I've just been to a concert last weekend where his Piano Trio No. 1 was played. It contained music which was pretty dark, soulful & lyrical, reminiscent mainly of Tchaikovsky but also Mendelssohn. His main strength was apparently chamber music. Arensky studied with Rimsky Korsakov who said "In his youth Arensky did not escape some influence from me; later the influence came from Tchaikovsky. He will quickly be forgotten." I think history has proven Rimsky's comments to be of poor judgement, as Arensky's compositions are still being played. Arensky also made an impact as a teacher, instructing composers such as Scriabin, Rachmaninov & Gretchaninov. I did hear a similarity between the Arensky piano trio & those of Rachmaninov, so he may have been somewhat of an influence on these younger men. Arensky died only in his 40's, of tubercolosis.
