Borodin A.P., (1833-1887), composer

Categories / Art/Music, Theatre/Personalia
Categories / Science. Education/Personalia
BORODIN Alexander Porfirievich (1833, St. Petersburg - 1887, ibidem), chemist, composer. A graduate of the Academy of Surgical Medical Sciences (1856), in 1858 he earned a doctorate in medicine and in 1864 was conferred the title of professor, assuming in 1874 the chairmanship of the Chemistry Department. In 1877 was elected a member of the Academy; as experimenter and theorist Borodin authored more than 40 research works and discoveries. He was also one of the organisers and, until 1885, professor of Women"s Medical Courses (1872-87). As a boy he received home education in music, and from 1862 studied composing under М. А. Balakirev, subsequently joining The Mighty Five because he shared the group’s aesthetic views. Most of Borodin"s musical legacy originated in St. Petersburg: the First and Second (Bogatyrskaya in B minor) symphonies (first performed in 1869 and 1877 at the Russian Musical Society concerts), In the Steppes of Central Asia symphonic poem (1880), unfinished Third Symphony and Prince Igor opera, chamber music pieces and romance songs. Shortly upon his sudden death N. А. Rimsky-Korsakov and A. K. Glazunov finished up his opera (which in 1890 was staged in the Mariinsky Theatre). Borodin"s innovative and unique style had impact on the music of Glazunov, А. K. Lyadov, S. S. Prokofyev, I. F. Stravinsky. In 1850-56 Borodin lived on Simbirskaya Street (today 49 Komsomola Street; the house was rebuilt); in 1863-87 Borodin lived in the building of the Institute of Natural Sciences of the Military Medical College (1 Pirogovskaya Embankment; memorial plaque). He is buried in the Necropolis of Arts Masters.

References: Сохор А. Н. Александр Порфирьевич Бородин: Жизнь, деятельность, муз. творчество. М.; Л., 1965; А. П. Бородин в воспоминаниях современников. М., 1985.

A. L. Porfiryeva. Borodin Alexander Porfirievich
Komsomola St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 56
Pirogovskaya Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 1
Сохор А. Н. Александр Порфирьевич Бородин: Жизнь, деятельность, муз. творчество. М.; Л., 1965
А. П. Бородин в воспоминаниях современников. М., 1985 Mariinsky Theatre
Necropolis of Artists
1890