Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov, also spelled Liadov, was a prominent Russian composer, teacher, and conductor born on April 29 [May 11, New Style], 1855, in St. Petersburg, Russia. He hailed from a distinguished family of musicians, with his father, Konstantin Lyadov, serving as the chief conductor of the Imperial Opera Company. Lyadov's early musical education was under the guidance of his father and later at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, where he studied composition with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Despite being expelled in 1876 for idleness, he was readmitted in 1878 and subsequently joined the faculty, teaching notable students such as Sergei Prokofiev and Nikolai Myaskovsky.

Lyadov was associated with The Five, a group of composers dedicated to creating a national school of Russian music. Although he struggled with completing large-scale compositions, his orchestral works and piano miniatures were highly regarded, especially his tone poems "The Enchanted Lake" and "Kikimora," which drew inspiration from Russian folklore. His interest in Russian folk music also led him to arrange folk songs for the Imperial Geographical Society.

In 1910, Lyadov was initially commissioned to compose the ballet score for "The Firebird" by Sergei Diaghilev, but the task eventually fell to Igor Stravinsky, impacting Lyadov's historical reputation. Despite this, his meticulous attention to detail and evocative musical style earned him a significant place in Russian Romantic music. Lyadov passed away on August 15 [August 28], 1914, in Palimovka, Novgorod, leaving behind a legacy of beautifully polished compositions that continue to be celebrated.