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Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin
Info
11/12/1833
Saint Petersburg, Russia
02/27/1887
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Russia
Romantic
Chamber, Opera
Saint Petersburg, Russia
02/27/1887
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Russia
Romantic
Chamber, Opera
Biography
Part of the "Russian Five" or kutchka a group of five national composers in later 19th century Russia. Borodin was a chemistry professor, which left him little time to develop his musical genius. Many of his songs were unfinished, and completed by other writers. He also worked hard to provide for a sickly wife, and poor relatives. Franz Liszt was one of the first to recognize and like Borodin's first symphony.
Main Works
Prince Igor (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov)
Polovtsian Dances (Themes from Prince Igor)
3 symphonies Numbers 1-3
2 String quartets