Russian Empire
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Alexander Borodin
Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Archival Overview
Russian composer of The Mighty Handful and distinguished professor of organic chemistry, celebrated for 'Prince Igor', the 'Polovtsian Dances', and his Second Symphony.
Biographical Record
Alexander Borodin led an extraordinary double life: by day, he was an eminent professor of organic chemistry at the Imperial Medical-Surgical Academy in St. Petersburg (co-discovering the Aldol reaction); by night and on holidays, he was a member of the 'Mighty Handful' (The Five), pioneering Russian national music.
Borodin's music is noted for its lush oriental color, heroic lyricism, and rhythmic vitality. His epic opera 'Prince Igor', left unfinished at his sudden death and completed by Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov, contains the dazzling, intoxicating 'Polovtsian Dances.' His String Quartet No. 2, written as an anniversary tribute to his wife, contains the immortal Notturno.
Key Life Milestones
Symphony No. 2 in B minor
Premiered his epic 'Bogatyr' symphony, celebrated for its heroic Russian character and folk vitality.
Posthumous Premiere of Prince Igor
Premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre after being lovingly completed by Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov.
Memorial Guestbook & Tributes
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Final Resting Place
Perpetual MemorialSaint Petersburg, Russian Empire