Alexander Grechaninov was a student of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. In 1890, Grechaninov moved to Saint Petersburg to continue his education in composition and entered Rimsky-Korsakov's class at the conservatory. He studied there for three years, graduating from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in Rimsky-Korsakov's composition class in 1893 with the examination cantata Samson.
During the period of study, Grechaninov maintained even and benevolent relations with his professor, though they did not establish a warm human contact, and Grechaninov was never included among the "favorite students." While Grechaninov sincerely admired his teacher, he felt offended by Rimsky-Korsakov's constant coldness and distance, regretting the lack of friendship with the renowned professor for the rest of his life.
Grechaninov is characterized as a faithful pupil and follower of the traditional Russian school associated with Rimsky-Korsakov, and his early works demonstrate the influence of his teacher. Rimsky-Korsakov later responded favorably to Grechaninov's opera Dobrynya Nikitich, praising the solid work and writing to Grechaninov that he rejoiced at the opera and considered it a good contribution to Russian operatic music.
