Alexander Borodin is a Russian composer and scientist. This is one of the most significant personalities of Russia in the 19th century. He was a comprehensively developed person who managed to make discoveries in the field of chemistry. Scientific life did not prevent Borodin from making music. Alexander composed several significant operas and other musical works.
Childhood and youth
Maestro's date of birth is November 12, 1833. Another fact that cannot be ignored is that he was the illegitimate son of Luka Gedevanishvili and a serf girl. The biological father did not recognize the boy, so at court Alexander was considered an ordinary serf.
The boy was raised by his stepfather Porfiry Borodin, together with his wife Tatiana. When Luka was on the verge of life, he ordered Tatiana and his son to be given freedom. He arranged the future of Alexander and presented a house to an unrecognized family.
Borodin did not have the right to study at the academy, so the boy independently took up the study of the school curriculum. From an early age, little Alexander showed interest in music. In particular, he had a certain talent for composition.
At the age of nine, Borodin composed his first work - a dance piece. The boy heard a lot of positive feedback about his work, so with even greater enthusiasm he took up the development of several musical instruments at once. Already at the age of 13, Alexander composed the first full-fledged concert piece.
In music lessons, Borodin's hobbies did not end. He drew well, and was also engaged in applied art. Another strong hobby of the guy was chemistry. Thanks to this science, he could explain many phenomena.
Alexander conducted chemical experiments right in the walls of his house. The mother of a teenager experienced both fear and joy. The woman was worried about the safety of the home, so she realized in time that her son needed to be sent to the gymnasium.
He went to study at the Medical and Surgical Academy of the cultural capital of Russia. In an educational institution, Borodin mastered the profession of a doctor and diligently studied chemistry.
The creative path and music of the composer Alexander Borodin
Most of the time the man devoted to science. However, the music did not fade into the background. In his student years, the young man replenished the repertoire with a number of lyrical romances. The compositions "Arabic Melody", "Sleeping Princess" and "Song of the Dark Forest" deserve special attention. He had a great opportunity to travel. Taking advantage of his position, he visited concert venues around the world.
In the cultural capital of Russia, Borodin became a member of the cultural St. Petersburg society of the Mighty Handful. Alexander began to exchange his own musical experience with other composers, as a result of which his compositions "bloomed". Colleagues called him an excellent successor to Mikhail Glinka.
Borodin performed his creations before the Russian elite. He often performed at Belyaev's house. Alexander sang about freedom, love for his country, as well as the national pride of the Russian people. He stands at the very origins of the symphony and heroic-epic tendencies in Russian classical music.
At one time, Borodin worked under the guidance of his friend and colleague, conductor Milia Balakirev. During this period of time, the maestro composed more than 15 romances, several symphonies, piano pieces, as well as a number of musical poems. At the same time, he presented the brilliant operas Bogatyrs and Prince Igor. Creations brought recognition to Borodin not only in Russia, but also in European countries.
In the second "Bogatyr" symphony, he managed to reveal the strength of the Russian people. The composer perfectly combined dance motifs with soul-piercing lyrics.
It should be noted that the brilliant maestro worked on the opera "Prince Igor" starting from his majority, but the work remained unfinished. The presented opera is a real example of the heroic-epic style in music. The work surprises with a huge number of scenes performed by the folk choir, as well as excellent transmission and preservation of the integrity of individual images.
Details of the personal life of maestro Alexander Borodin
When Borodin traveled abroad, he courted the young pianist Ekaterina Protopopova. She was undergoing treatment for asthma in one of the German clinics. Katya had an excellent ear and often played music in a circle of composers and musicians.
Ekaterina and Alexander spent a lot of time together. The man decided to propose to his beloved, and she agreed. Soon the couple officially legalized their relationship.
Since Katya had problems with the organs of the upper pathways, she could not live in the northern capital for a long time. The girl was forced from time to time to leave for her mother in Moscow. Borodin was very upset by the separation from his beloved, as evidenced by the numerous letters that they wrote to each other.
Borodin did not become a father. Katya was very worried about the absence of children. The family brightened up loneliness by taking pupils. Alexander considered the girls to be his own daughters.
Interesting facts about the composer
- Once, at a practical lesson, Borodin had to work with a corpse. He made a sudden movement, and a rotten bone sank into his skin. It could have cost the maestro of life, but after a long treatment, everything worked out.
- At the academy, he was an excellent student, which made the students very angry.
- Mendeleev advised Alexander to leave music and come to grips with the study of chemistry.
- The scores created by the maestro are still in excellent condition. The fact is that he coated them with egg yolk, which helped keep them in perfect condition.
- More than 5 biographical films were created about the great composer and musician. They perfectly illustrated the life of a great genius.
The last years of the life of maestro Alexander Borodin
In the last years of his life, Alexander was actively involved in social activities. He attended scientific symposiums, held concerts and helped young talents to get on their feet.
In 1880, he lost his close Zinin, and a year later another close person, Mussorgsky, passed away. Personal losses led to a deterioration in the composer's condition. He was on the verge of depression.
On February 27, 1887, the composer celebrated Shrovetide, in the circle of his relatives and friends. He felt beautiful and was in full mind. At this event, the maestro died. He was talking about something, and then just collapsed on the floor. The cause of Borodin's death was a heart rupture.
The body of the great musician was buried in the necropolis of the masters of arts of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. A monument is erected on the grave of Borodin, which is symbolically decorated with notes and chemical elements.
In memory of the composer, his fellow composers decided to complete the opera Prince Igor. The creation was presented to the general public in 1890.
