Rimsky-Korsakov's non-program music, though well-crafted, does not rise to the same level of inspiration as his programmatic works; he needed fantasy to bring out the best in him.
A música non programática de Rimskii-Korsakov, aínda que ben elaborada, non alcanza o mesmo nivel de inspiración que as súas obras programáticas; precisaba de fantasía para sacar o mellor del.