As the story goes, the commission for the Firebird didn’t originally go to Igor Stravinsky, who ended up composing a magnificent, world-renowned score. Anatol Liadov was supposed to do it first. However, the brilliant Russian mind was also a great procrastinator. When asked of his progress, he remarked, “I’ve bought the paper.”
That job didn’t last long.
A good, not particularly well-known composition of his is the Ballade. In a way, it’s probably good he didn’t end up doing the Firebird, because I couldn’t see anyone dancing well to the fast 5/4 rhythm central to the piece.
Concerto Infinito 