Alexander Borodin

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Biography

Born: 1833   Died: 1887   Country: Russia   Period: Romantic
Though far from prolific as a composer -- by day he was a scientist noted for his research on aldehydes -- Alexander Borodin nevertheless earned a secure place in the history of Russian music. As a creative spirit, Borodin was the most accomplished of the Russian nationalists composers. He had a particular gift for the distinctive stripe of exoticism so evident in his most frequently performed work, the Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince Read more Igor.

The illegitimate son of a Georgian prince and a doctor's wife, Borodin enjoyed a comfortable upbringing. As a child he learned to play several instruments and tried his hand at composing, but other aptitudes directed his formal education. He studied chemistry at St. Petersburg's Medico-Surgical Academy, obtaining his doctorate in 1858 and pursuing further studies in Europe until 1862. Upon his return to Russia, he became a professor at his alma mater; but even as an academic career apparently loomed before him, he maintained a devotion to music.

Under the influence of Mily Balakirev, whom he met in 1862, Borodin became interested in applying elements of Russian folk music to works for the concert hall and stage. He joined a circle of like-minded composers -- Balakirev, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, and Cui -- famously dubbed "The Five" or "The Mighty Handful." The influence of Balakirev in particular is at once in evident in the Symphony No. 1 in E flat major (1867). Borodin began the much craggier Symphony No. 2 in B minor in 1869, the same year he commenced labor on his most important work, the opulent four-act opera Prince Igor. While it took Borodin more than five years to complete the symphony, work on Prince Igor dragged on for decades. Borodin, who had in the meantime completed a number of other works, left the opera unfinished at the time of his death. It was completed posthumously by Rimsky-Korsakov, a skillful craftsman and a particularly apt match for Borodin's colorful musical character, and Alexander Glazunov. Glazunov also completed the Symphony No. 3 in A minor, which the composer had been working on until the time of his death.

Aside from teaching chemistry and conducting research, Borodin helped found a series of medical courses for women in 1872. Such activities, as well as the poor health that plagued him in the 1880s, drained the energy that he might have devoted to composition. Still, as a part-time composer, Borodin jeft a significant oeuvre: more than a dozen worthy songs, miscellaneous piano pieces, two string quartets (the second of which contains a ravishing Nocturne often performed in an arrangement for string orchestra), and the popular tone poem In the Steppes of Central Asia (1880). He died while attending a ball in St. Petersburg on February 27, 1887. Read less

Featured Alexander Borodin CDs & DVDs:

Borodin: String Quartets 1 & 2 / Borodin Quartet
Borodin: String Quartets 1 & 2 / Borodin Quartet
Release Date: 10/25/1990   Label: Emi Classics  
Catalog: 47795   Number of Discs: 1
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Borodin: Complete Songs & Romances /Tarassova, Slavny, Et Al
Borodin: Complete Songs & Romances /Tarassova, Slavny, Et Al
Release Date: 04/03/2001   Label: Delos  
Catalog: 3277   Number of Discs: 1
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Ancerl Gold Edition 4 - Mussorgsky, Borodin, Rimsky-korsakov
Ancerl Gold Edition 4 - Mussorgsky, Borodin, Rimsky-korsakov
Release Date: 09/24/2002   Label: Supraphon  
Catalog: 3664   Number of Discs: 1
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Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Borodin: Polovtsian Dances / Beecham, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Borodin: Polovtsian Dances / Beecham, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Release Date: 01/13/2008   Label: Emi Classics  
Catalog: 566983   Number of Discs: 1
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Historical - Borodin: String Quartets / Borodin Quartet
Historical - Borodin: String Quartets / Borodin Quartet
Release Date: 10/20/2008   Label: Melodiya  
Catalog: 1000942   Number of Discs: 1
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Work: In the steppes of central Asia

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  • 1.
    Tchaikovsky: 1812; Brahms: Symphony No. 4; Borodin: In The Steppes Of Central Asia / Mengelberg, Concertgebouw Orchestra Of Amsterdam
    Tchaikovsky: 1812; Brahms: Symphony No. 4; Borodin: In The Steppes Of Central Asia / Mengelberg, Concertgebouw Orchestra Of Amsterdam
    Label: Opus Kura   Catalog: 2104 Release Date: 03/12/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Alexander Borodin,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Conductor:  Willem Mengelberg
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Concertgebouw Orchestra
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  • 2.
    Borodin: Symphonies 1-3, In The Steppes Of Central Asia / Ermler, Tjeknavorian
    Borodin: Symphonies 1-3, In The Steppes Of Central Asia / Ermler, Tjeknavorian
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 94453 Release Date: 02/26/2013   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin
    Conductor:  Mark Ermler,  Loris Tjeknavorian
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra,  Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 3.
    Icon - Constantin Silvestri [15-CD Set]
    Icon - Constantin Silvestri [15-CD Set]
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 233472 Release Date: 02/05/2013   Number of Discs: 15
    Composer:  Antonín Dvorák,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,  George Enescu,  Franz Liszt  ... 
    Conductor:  Constantin Silvestri
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,  London Philharmonic Orchestra,  Orchestre de la Société du Conservatoire Paris  ... 
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  • 4.
    Borodin: Symphony No 2, Etc / Schmidt, Royal Po
    Borodin: Symphony No 2, Etc / Schmidt, Royal Po
    Label: Regis   Catalog: 1215 Release Date: 01/29/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin
    Conductor:  Ole Schmidt
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 5.
    Borodin Edition
    Borodin Edition
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 94410 Release Date: 11/13/2012   Number of Discs: 10
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin,  Franz Liszt,  Anatole Liadov,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov  ... 
    Performer:  Alexander Gotthelf,  Alexander Mndoiantz,  Marco Rapetti,  Giampaolo Nuti  ... 
    Conductor:  Mark Ermler,  Emil Tchakarov
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra,  Moscow String Quartet,  Moscow Trio  ... 
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  • 6.
    Rimsky-Korsakov: Golden Cockerel Suite, May Night Overture / Markevitch, Orchestre Lamoureux
    Rimsky-Korsakov: Golden Cockerel Suite, May Night Overture / Markevitch, Orchestre Lamoureux
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 001739302 Release Date: 10/09/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin,  Mikhail Glinka,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,  Anatole Liadov  ... 
    Conductor:  Igor Markevitch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Lamoureux Concerts Association Orchestra
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  • 7.
    A Musical Journey - Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
    A Musical Journey - Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 2110292 Release Date: 09/25/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin,  Modest Mussorgsky
    Conductor:  Daniel Nazareth
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 8.
    Russian Treasures
    Russian Treasures
    Label: Virgin Classics   Catalog: 02572 Release Date: 09/25/2012   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,  Modest Mussorgsky,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky  ... 
    Performer:  Mikhail Pletnev,  Gautier Capuçon,  Steven Isserlis,  Natalie Dessay  ... 
    Conductor:  Paavo Järvi,  André Cluytens,  Armin Jordan,  Sir Charles Mackerras  ... 
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  • 9.
    Alexander Borodin: Symphonies Nos. 1-3; Petite Suite; In The Steppes Of Central Asia; Overture To The Opera
    Alexander Borodin: Symphonies Nos. 1-3; Petite Suite; In The Steppes Of Central Asia; Overture To The Opera "prince Igor"
    Label: Melodiya   Catalog: 1001946 Release Date: 06/12/2012   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin
    Conductor:  Yevgeny Svetlanov
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  • 10.
    Journey Around The World
    Journey Around The World
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 55476 Release Date: 04/10/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Aaron Copland,  Mexican Anonymous,  Isaac Albeniz,  Arthur Benjamin  ... 
    Performer:  Gabriela Montero,  Julian Byzantine,  Larry Adler,  Jean-Yves Thibaudet  ... 
    Conductor:  Leonard Slatkin,  Eric Robinson,  André Cluytens,  Sir Vivian Dunn  ... 
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  • 11.
    Borodin: Symphonies 1-3, Polovtsian Dances / Davis, Bernstein
    Borodin: Symphonies 1-3, Polovtsian Dances / Davis, Bernstein
    Label: Newton Classics   Catalog: 8802097 Release Date: 01/31/2012   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin
    Conductor:  Sir Andrew Davis,  Saulius Sondeckis,  Leonard Bernstein
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Toronto Symphony Orchestra,  St. Petersburg Camerata of the Hermitage Museum,  New York Philharmonic
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  • 12.
    Icon: Vernon Handley - Champion Of British Music
    Icon: Vernon Handley - Champion Of British Music
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 98202 Release Date: 10/11/2011   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Ralph Vaughan Williams,  Sir Edward Elgar,  Sir Arthur Bliss,  Sir William Walton  ... 
    Performer:  Nigel Kennedy,  Tasmin Little
    Conductor:  Vernon Handley
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Philharmonic Orchestra,  City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra,  Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
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  • 13.
    Borodin: Prince Igor Excerpts, In The Steppes Of Central Asia, Symphony No 2 / Schmidt
    Borodin: Prince Igor Excerpts, In The Steppes Of Central Asia, Symphony No 2 / Schmidt
    Label: Royal Philharmonic Masterworks   Catalog: 28280 Release Date: 02/08/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin
    Conductor:  Ole Schmidt
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 14.
    The World's Most Beautiful Music
    Label: Northquest   Catalog: 315003 Release Date: 10/12/2010   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Edvard Grieg,  Antonín Dvorák  ... 
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  • 15.
    Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5; Borodin: In The Steppes Of Central Asia; Polovtsian Dances / Fricsay
    Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5; Borodin: In The Steppes Of Central Asia; Polovtsian Dances / Fricsay
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 459011 Release Date: 07/30/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Alexander Borodin
    Conductor:  Ferenc Fricsay
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  • 16.
    Borodin: Complete Piano Music / Marco Papetti
    Borodin: Complete Piano Music / Marco Papetti
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 93894 Release Date: 04/20/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin,  Franz Liszt,  Anatole Liadov,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov  ... 
    Performer:  Marco Rapetti,  Giampaolo Nuti,  Daniela De Santis
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  • 17.
    The Royal Edition - Russian Orchestral Music / Bernstein
    The Royal Edition - Russian Orchestral Music / Bernstein
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 47607 Release Date: 02/11/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Dmitri Shostakovich,  Sergei Prokofiev,  Modest Mussorgsky,  Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov  ... 
    Conductor:  Leonard Bernstein
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic
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  • 18.
    Musiques Russes / Cluytens, Giulini, Philharmonia, Et Al
    Musiques Russes / Cluytens, Giulini, Philharmonia, Et Al
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 68550 Release Date: 12/16/2009   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Mikhail Glinka,  Alexander Borodin,  Mily Balakirev,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky  ... 
    Conductor:  Constantin Silvestri,  André Cluytens,  Lovro von Matacic,  Igor Markevitch  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra
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  • 19.
    The Legend Of The Orchestra
    The Legend Of The Orchestra
    Label: Virgin Classics   Catalog: 94539 Release Date: 10/20/2009   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Jacques Offenbach,  Modest Mussorgsky,  Alexander Borodin,  Ralph Vaughan Williams  ... 
    Conductor:  Herbert von Karajan,  Sir Charles Mackerras,  Georges Prêtre,  Christopher Warren-Green  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra,  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
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  • 20.
    Borodin, Saint-saens, Franck, Scriabin: Works For Piano And Orchestra / Rubinstein, Mitropoulos
    Borodin, Saint-saens, Franck, Scriabin: Works For Piano And Orchestra / Rubinstein, Mitropoulos
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 2355 Release Date: 07/14/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Alexander Scriabin,  César Franck,  Camille Saint-Saëns,  Alexander Borodin
    Performer:  Artur Rubinstein
    Conductor:  Dimitri Mitropoulos
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic
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  • 21.
    Ultimate Classical Spectacular - The Essential Masterpieces
    Ultimate Classical Spectacular - The Essential Masterpieces
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001274702 Release Date: 04/21/2009   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Maurice Ravel,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,  Modest Mussorgsky  ... 
    Performer:  Alan Loveday,  Christopher Warren-Green
    Conductor:  Esa-Pekka Salonen,  Sir Neville Marriner,  Vladimir Ashkenazy,  Charles Dutoit
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  • 22.
    Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Etc / Salonen, Bavarian Rso
    Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Etc / Salonen, Bavarian Rso
    Label: Philips   Catalog: 412552 Release Date: 01/30/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Mily Balakirev,  Alexander Borodin,  Mikhail Glinka
    Conductor:  Esa-Pekka Salonen
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra,  Bavarian Radio Chorus
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  • 23.
    4 Elements - Classical Music Of Fire, Water, Air And Earth
    4 Elements - Classical Music Of Fire, Water, Air And Earth
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 184592 Release Date: 09/09/2008   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  George Frideric Handel,  Georg Philipp Telemann,  Johann Strauss Jr.,  Bedrich Smetana  ... 
    Performer:  Andreas Pistorius,  Jutta Zoff,  Peter Rösel,  Ute Priew  ... 
    Conductor:  Hartmut Haenchen,  Carl von Garaguly,  Václav Neumann,  Kurt Sanderling  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  C.P.E. Bach Chamber Orchestra,  Dresden Staatskapelle,  Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra  ... 
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  • 24.
    The World Of Borodin
    The World Of Borodin
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 444389 Release Date: 09/02/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin,  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer:  Zlatina Ghiaurov,  Nicolai Ghiaurov,  Vladimir Ashkenazy
    Conductor:  Jean Martinon,  Ernest Ansermet,  Sir Georg Solti,  Edward Downes
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra,  Suisse Romande Orchestra,  London Symphony Chorus  ... 
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  • 25.
    Borodin: Symphonies 2 & 3, Prince Igor Overture / Ansermet, Suisse Romande
    Borodin: Symphonies 2 & 3, Prince Igor Overture / Ansermet, Suisse Romande
    Label: Eloquence   Catalog: 4800048 Release Date: 08/25/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin
    Conductor:  Ernest Ansermet
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Suisse Romande Orchestra
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