Composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov for his opera, The Tale of Tsar Salton (circa 1899-1900), the "Flight of the Bumblebee"
is one of the most recognizable orchestral pieces to stand the test of
time. Unfortunately, that haunting refrain just might outlive our bee
population, leading many to wonder if the demise of the bee is a case of
the "canary in the mineshaft?"