Zverev was one of his teachers, Rachmaninoff a fellow student; despite the degree of tension that grew between them (probably exaggerated by the polarisation of their supporters), Rachmaninoff was deeply affected by Scriabin’s premature death, dedicating a series of concerts to him. Scriabin played for Tolstoy, was visited by Busoni and Casals, and advised the future novelist Pasternak to study music. Glazunov was a close colleague and friend. Rimsky-Korsakov was affectionate, if critical of his carelessness. Though Rimsky, Rachmaninoff and he discussed the colour of sounds, there is some doubt as to whether Scriabin was really synaesthetic.