Nadesjda Purgold was born on 20 January 1848 in Moscow. Her father was the famous Russian historian Vladimir Purgold. She studied music during her childhood, and became proficient as a pianist and singer. In 1871, she married N.A Rimsky-Korsakov, a Russian composer.
Madame de Rimsky-Korsakov arranged more than 100 folk songs for voice and piano. Her arrangements featured in the five volumes of "One Hundred Russian Folk Songs" (1876-1881) published by her husband.
In addition to her work as a composer and arranger, Madame de Rimsky-Korsakov was also an accomplished pianist and singer. She performed her husband's songs and piano works in concerts and recitals, and she also recorded some of his works for the gramophone.
In 1908, the couple were forced to flee their estate due to civil disorder from the revolution. They later settled in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, where they remained until his death in 1908.
Madame de Rimsky-Korsakov continued to compose and arrange music after her husband's death. In 1918, she published a collection of her own original works for piano called "From My Youth". She also continued to perform her husband's works in concerts and recitals until the end of her life.
Madame de Rimsky-Korsakov died in Paris, France, on 24 September 1945, aged 97.