Rimsky-Korsakov provides the following details concerning the work's genesis in his memoirs, Chronicle of My Musical Life, 1909: "Gedeonov, Director of the Imperial Theatres at the time, had conceived the idea of producing a work which should combine ballet, opera and spectacle.
Rimskij-Korsakov skriver i sina memoarer följande detaljer rörande verkets begynnelse provides the following details concerning the work's genesis in his memoirs, Chronicle of My Musical Life, 1909: "Gedeonov, chef för den kejserliga teatern vid den tiden, hade initierat idén med ett verk som skulle kombinera balett, opera och spektakel.