The Mighty Bunch of Russian Composers: Borodin (end). Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin

Among composers XIX century A.P. Borodin(1833-1887) stands out for his universalism. Light, whole and broad nature, he was unusually gifted. Great composer, representative of the "Mighty Handful", European famous chemist, a talented practitioner, public figure, Borodin played the flute, cello, violin, piano, conducted, knew several foreign languages. A witty storyteller, a talented lecturer, he brilliantly mastered the literary word (as evidenced by his letters, reviews in the Petersburg Vedomosti newspaper, texts of romances and the libretto of Prince Igor). Exceptional talent and encyclopedic education brings Borodin closer to the great titans of the Renaissance, as well as to the enlighteners of the XVIII century. century (such, for example, as M. V. Lomonosov).

Composer's work of Borodin, due to the acute shortage of his free time, is small in volume. It is represented by the opera “Prince Igor” (on which the composer worked for 18 years without completing it), three symphonies, the symphonic poem “In Central Asia”, two string quartets, two trios, 16 romances, several piano pieces. XX century, the glory of Borodin the composer surpassed his scientific fame.

In the musical style, Borodin singled out several components: "Glinka + Beethoven + Schumann + his own." This outwardly simple formulation has stood the test of time. Indeed, Borodin was the successor of the "Ruslan" tradition of Russian music, the closest to M.I. Glinka in reflecting the harmony and stability of the world. He idolized Glinka, he himself constantly noted the unity of souls with him (even Borodin's wife sometimes addressed him: "my little Glinka"). His worldview, like that of Glinka, was positive, optimistic, marked by faith in the heroic might of the Russian people. Exactly heroism- a fundamental feature of the Russian people in the understanding of Borodin (whereas Mussorgsky has mournful patience and spontaneous protest, and Rimsky-Korsakov has a wealth of artistic imagination). Showing the heroic beginning is the very essence of the "Borodino" in music. At the same time, the power of the people in Borodin is almost always spiritual and kind: it creates and protects, and does not destroy. The composer was attracted by solid, clear characters, the world is clean, healthy, highly moral.

The origins of the heroic plots of Borodin are in Russian history and the heroic epic. Unlike Mussorgsky, he was attracted not by "troubled times", but by those in which the people opposed the external enemy, showing power and patriotism. One of Borodin's desk books was "The History of Russia from Ancient Times" by the Russian philosopher and historian S.M. Solovyov.

Russian is inextricably linked with the name of Borodin. musical epic.The epic is the leading dominant of his work. In the artistic picture of the world created by Borodin, the mood of the epic tale, which tells about the "eternal", dominates. principles of dramaturgy: a long deployment of one image, internally integral and complete, a long stay in one emotional state, a gradual change in musical plans. Development is carried out by bringing together contrasting themes, the result of which is their unity. Naturally, the epic beginning was most fully manifested in the major works of Borodin - the opera "Prince Igor" and symphonies, especially in the Second ("Bogatyrskaya"), which became the pinnacle of Russian epic symphonism.

Borodin's chamber-instrumental music tends more towards lyrics. A striking example is the beautiful music of "Nocturne" ( III part) from the Second Quartet dedicated to the composer's wife. The lyrics and the drama of Borodin bear the strongest imprint of the epic principle.

On the basis of the epic, through objectivism, balance, the desire for a holistic coverage of phenomena, arose classic features thinking of Borodin. He highly appreciated the harmony and integrity of the musical form as such, gravitated towards chamber instrumental music, towards non-program symphonism. Thinking within the framework of classical forms, primarily sonata, became the law of his instrumental creativity. The predilection for the proportionality of parts, the roundness of forms, perhaps, manifested the thinking of the scientist.

The very nature of Borodin's musical education, obtained through amateur music-making, was purely classical, Western. Considering himself an amateur, he beat all the quartets of the Viennese classics, Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn. As the leader of the orchestra and choir of the St. Petersburg Circle of Music Lovers, Borodin publicly conducted Beethoven's symphonies, overtures, and the Mass in C major. He knew Beethoven's music thoroughly.

There are numerous examples of Beethoven's influence on Borodin's work. This is the assertion of a heroic theme, and a special type of courageous lyrics, and many principles of form formation (it is Borodin who, as a stable tradition, consolidates the Beethoven idea of ​​using sonata form as a section of a larger structure). At the same time, the epic-narrative orientation of the dramatic development in Borodin's works sharply diverges from Beethoven's acute conflict.

The world of Russian images in Borodin's music is adjacent to an equally bright and full-blooded sphere of the East.The idea of ​​the equivalence of cultures (East-Rus), their unity was close to the composer, and it is not enough to see only the spontaneous manifestation of the voice of blood in this. Borodin was seriously engaged in oriental musical folklore, and his field of interest included not only the music of the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia, but also the Volga region , Central Asia.It's not surprising thatThe East, like Ancient Russia, in Borodin's music is devoid of the moment of conventionality and fabulousness inherent in many compositions. XIX century, including Glinka and Rimsky-Korsakov.

Both in "Prince Igor" and in the symphonic painting "In Central Asia" oriental images are surprisingly diverse. They reflected passion and bliss, a cool oasis and sizzling heat, severe militancy and languid grace.

MelodiesBorodin in their structure and modal nature are related to Russian peasant songs. Their favorite melodic turn - the trichord, consisting of a fourth (third) and a major second - was directly borrowed by the composer from samples of Russian folk art.

Modal thinking Borodin is characterized by reliance on fresh layers of folklore. In addition to natural modes, he often uses their mixing, as well as artificial modes.

Bold innovation is different harmony Borodin, marked, on the one hand, by melodic saturation (coming from folk polyphony), and on the other hand, by attention to the phonism of consonances, their colorfulness, unusual structure (by quarts and seconds), weakening of intra-functional relationships. Researchers note in Borodin the frequent absence of classical 4 -x voices, "school" voice leading. So, for example, he introduces empty fourths and fifths, which are not accepted in European harmony. XIX century.

A unique person is Alexander Borodin, composer and scientist rolled into one. It was realized with equal success in two opposite spheres of activity, which is extremely rare. His life is an example of diligence and passionate love for any creativity.

Family and childhood

In 1833, a child was born in St. Petersburg, he was the fruit of an extramarital affair between Prince Luka Stepanovich Gedianov and the commoner Avdotya Konstantinovna Antonova. At the time of the birth of his son, the father was 62 years old, and the mother was 25, they could not get married due to class differences, and the prince did not have the opportunity to recognize the baby. Therefore, he was recorded as the son of the serfs Gedianov. So the future composer Borodin Alexander Porfiryevich appeared. Until the age of 8, he was listed as the property of his father, but, fortunately, before his death, he managed to give him freedom. He also bought for the mother of his son, who was married to the doctor Kleinecke, and for the child a large stone house with 4 floors and ensured their comfortable existence. In 1840, Gedianov died, but this did not affect the well-being of his son.

Unclear origin did not allow Alexander to study at the gymnasium, so he received a home education. His mother paid much attention to this, and excellent teachers came to him, he studied two foreign languages ​​and as a result received an excellent education, which allowed him to successfully pass the matriculation exams in 1850. However, before that, his mother and stepfather had to "legalize" the child, they turned to Kleinecke's connections and were able to enroll the boy in the merchants' guild, only this allowed Borodin to officially graduate from the gymnasium and later enter the Medico-Surgical Academy of St. Petersburg.

Passion for music

At the age of 8, young Sasha began to show a strong interest in music, he reproduced by ear on the home piano the works that he heard near the house, on the military parade ground, where the military band was rehearsing. He looked at all the musical instruments with great attention, asked the people who played them. Mom drew attention to this, and although she herself had no musical tastes and abilities, she invited a musician from the military orchestra to him, and he taught Sasha to play the flute.

Later, the boy was taught to play the piano, and he was able to master the cello on his own. At the age of 9, his first compositions appeared. Sasha Borodin, a composer by nature, composes the polka "Helen" for the young lady. Together with a school friend, he attends all concerts in St. Petersburg, learns the works of the classics, composes a little, for example, he writes a concerto for flute, violin and cello based on Meyerbeer's opera Robert the Devil. Young Alexander Borodin is a composer from God, but he was fond of not only music. He had many interests, he loved to sculpt, draw, but his greatest passion since childhood was chemistry.

Craving for science

Already at the age of 12, the future composer Borodin met with his second business of life - with science. It all started with fireworks, like many children, Sasha admired these flashing lights, but he wanted to make them with his own hands. He wanted to get into the composition of things, he himself made paints for drawing, mixed various preparations. The house of the young naturalist was filled with flasks and retorts. The boy's mother was worried about the safety of the house, but could not forbid him to conduct experiments. The magical transformations of solutions, vivid chemical reactions fascinated Sasha Borodin, and it was impossible to prevent his passion. By the end of school, the passion for science outweighed the love for music, and Borodin began to prepare for entering the university.

He successfully passed the exams, and the future composer Borodin became a student at the Medical and Surgical Academy, which became his second home. All his subsequent life he was one way or another associated with her. The meeting with Professor Zinin became fateful for Alexander, in a sense, he found a father in him. He inspired the student to study science and helped him to comprehend all the secrets of chemistry. In 1856, Borodin brilliantly graduated from the academy and was assigned to a military land hospital. Working as a doctor, he writes a dissertation and in 1858 receives a doctorate in medicine. But all this time he does not leave chemistry and music.

Foreign experience

In 1859 A. P. Borodin, a composer, doctor and scientist, was sent abroad to improve his qualifications in the field of chemistry. Alexander Porfirievich spent three years in Heidelberg, Germany, at whose university a brilliant Russian scientific circle gathered at that time: Mendeleev, Junge, Botkin, Sechenov - the whole color of modern Russian natural science. In this society, not only stormy scientific discussions were conducted, but also the problems of art, society, and politics were discussed. The results of research in Germany brought Borodin worldwide fame as an outstanding chemist. But for scientific experiments, he does not forget about music, attends concerts, gets acquainted with new names - Weber, Liszt, Wagner, Berlioz, Mendelssohn, becomes a passionate admirer of Schumann and Chopin. Borodin also continues to write music, from his pen comes a number of chamber works, including the famous cello sonata and piano quintet. Also, Alexander Porfiryevich travels a lot around Europe, he spends almost a year in Paris, where he comprehends the secrets of chemistry and plunges into the world of modern music.

Chemistry as a matter of life

All composer by vocation, closely connected with science. After returning from abroad, he successfully passes a research report and receives an adjunct professor at his alma mater. Borodin's financial situation was not brilliant, the teacher's salary barely covered his urgent needs. He continued to teach at the academy until the end of his life, and also worked as a translator. He is also active in scientific research. In 1864 he received the title of ordinary professor, after 10 years he became the head of a scientific laboratory in chemistry. In 1868, Borodin, together with his teacher Zinin, became the founder of the Russian Chemical Society. In 1877 he became an academician of his native university, in 1883 he was elected an honorary member of the Russian Society of Doctors.

Path in music

While still a student, Alexander Borodin, a Russian composer, creates a number of outstanding works, he also plays music as a cellist. He continues to study music during an overseas internship. And after returning to Russia, he joins the circle of the intelligentsia, who are fond of music. In the house of Botkin's colleague, he meets Balakirev, who, together with Stasov, influenced the formation of his aesthetic worldview. He introduces Borodin to the group headed by Mussorgsky, which, with the advent of the composer, acquired a completed form and later became known as the "Mighty Handful". Composer Borodin became a consistent successor to the traditions of the Russian national school, M. Glinka.

Opera creativity

During his creative life, which always ran parallel to other types of activities, Alexander Porfirievich wrote 4 major operatic works.

The operas of the composer Borodin are the fruit of his many years of work. "Bogatyrs" he wrote in 1868. Later, in a collective collaboration with other authors, "Mlada" appears. For 18 years he worked on his most grandiose creation - the opera "Prince Igor" based on "The Tale of Igor's Campaign", which he could not complete, and after his death, the work was collected from sketches by his friends. The opera "The Tsar's Bride" was also not completed, and in fact these are just sketches.

Chamber music

The music of the composer Borodin is mainly represented by chamber works; he writes sonatas, concertos and quartets. He is considered, along with Tchaikovsky, the founder of the Russian quartet. His music is distinguished by a combination of lyricism and epic, he tends to scale, actively uses the traditional motifs of Russian music, but also subtly fits into Western European music, he is considered the progenitor of European impressionism.

Outstanding Writings

Composer Borodin is famous for several of his creations. His First Symphony Es-dur, written in 1866, shocked his contemporaries with its power, originality and brightness, it brought European fame to the composer. All three of Borodin's completed symphonies are gems of Russian music. Operas by composer Borodin "Prince Igor" and "The Tsar's Bride" are world famous. In them, he embodies all the best that is in Russian song, creates broad pictures of the epic history of Russia.

The work of the composer Borodin is not numerous, but each work is a real masterpiece. His music is often performed by contemporary orchestras. And "Prince Igor" is in the repertoire of all Russian opera houses.

Social activity

The name of the composer Borodin is closely connected with pedagogical activity. The students were very fond of the professor who was passionately in love with chemistry. He was always ready to help poor students, distinguished by benevolence and delicacy. He protects students from political persecution, for example, he supports the participants in the assassination attempt on Emperor Alexander II.

In addition to pedagogy, Borodin organizes a free music school, he helps young talents find their way in music. Borodin spends a lot of energy on providing opportunities for women to receive higher education, organizes women's medical courses, where he teaches for free. He also manages to lead a student choir, edits the popular science magazine "Knowledge".

Private life

Composer Borodin, whose brief biography is presented in the article, lived an extremely rich scientific and creative life. And in family life he was not completely happy. He met his wife during a business trip abroad. They got married only in 1863, the wife suffered from asthma and did not tolerate the climate of St. Petersburg, she often had to leave for warmer climes, which greatly undermined the family budget. The couple did not have children, but they took several pupils, whom Borodin considered daughters.

A difficult and intense life undermined Borodin's health. He was torn between creativity, science and service, and his heart could not withstand such a load. On February 27, 1887, he died suddenly. After his departure, friends, led by Rimsky-Korsakov, complete Prince Igor and carefully collect all the creative heritage of the great Russian composer.

A.P. Borodin is one of the monumental figures of the Russian composer school, one of the members. He is one of the first composers, the one thanks to whom Europe recognized and recognized Russian music. In this sense, his name is on a par with the name

Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin (1833 - 1887) lived a short life and died suddenly due to a heart attack.

"... like a cannonball hit him and pulled him out of the ranks of the living."

Unlike like-minded friends, this composer, having followed the traditional path, remained faithful to his main profession - chemistry (while - he retired, Rimsky-Korsakov left the naval service, Cui also did not remain a military engineer for long).

The name of Borodin in the nineteenth century. was widely known along with the largest Russian chemists both in Russia and in Europe: together with Professor N. Zinin, he carried out a real revolution (laying the foundations of the modern theory of plastics). In addition, the composer was a great teacher. He himself joked that he composes music when he is resting or sick. And his joke is true, since the work on the works often stretched not only for years, but for decades (he worked on the opera Prince Igor for 25 years and never completed it).

In the creative heritage of Borodin:

• 1 opera ("Prince Igor"),
• operetta with colloquial dialogues "Bogatyrs",
• 3 symphonies (No. 3 not finished),
• symphonic picture "In Central Asia",
• chamber, piano compositions, romances and songs,
• concerto for flute and piano and orchestra (lost).

Symphonies by A.P. Borodin

An important role in the creative biography of Borodin the symphonist was played by his First Symphony Es —dur (1867, first performed in December 1868). Thanks to her, the whole of Europe recognized the composer. Cui notes that in the symphony

"... a lot of power, ardor, fire and a significant degree of originality."

The author of one of the notes in the press described the symphony as "amazingly rich, of pure Beethoven beauty." It is she who opens the line of Russian epic symphonism, where the characteristic signs and features of the Russian symphony are outlined:

• breadth, slowness, calmness, narrative, which implies an epic symphony;
• the absence of direct conflict clashes;
• picturesqueness.

The characteristic orchestra of the composer was also formed here.
It is in his work that the complete pair composition is determined, brass instruments become chromatic; the orchestra is distinguished by power, splendor, brightness, color richness.
Symphony No. 2 (1869-1876) affirms the traditions formed in Symphony No. 1, and is characterized by Stasov as follows:

“It has a national and program character. Here you can hear the ancient Russian heroic warehouse.

Although the symphony belongs to one of the most calm, narrative works, its power of influence is such that Mussorgsky called it the "Heroic Slavic Symphony". Relief and picturesqueness led to the fact that the program name "Bogatyrskaya" was assigned to the symphony. In addition, each of its parts received a program interpretation (thanks to Stasov):

"Collection of Russian bogatyrs", "Bogatyr's games", "Bayan's story", "Feast of bogatyrs".

Symphony No. 3 a-moll (unfinished) with a pronounced national flavor was first performed in Moscow in 1899 at the Moscow German Club conducted by V. S. Terentyev.

Opera works of Borodin

The widely known opera "Prince Igor" was created by the musician for 25 years, but remained unfinished. The premiere took place only in 1890 (October 23, staged by the Mariinsky Theatre), becoming a kind of monument to the composer, who by that time had already died. He worked on the libretto together with V. V. Stasov, who made an invaluable contribution to the process of creating the opera. So, there was a period when Borodin stopped working on the work, indicating two reasons for this:

• the complexity and scale of the work made the composer doubt that he could handle it;
• the genre of the literary primary source (“The Tale of Igor's Campaign”) did not imply a sharply conflicted confrontation necessary for the intensity of the development of the stage action.

And here Stasov came to the aid of the composer, proposing, in addition to the main conflict line of confrontation between nations (Russian-Polovtsy), a line of morality: on the one hand, the nobility and sublimity of Igor, on the other, the introduction of the figurative world of Prince Galitsky into the operatic plot. Thus, operatic drama acquired an additional conflict. Thanks to the activities of Stasov and the complication of the plot, the master returns to work on the work.

Chamber music by A.P. Borodin

The composer believed that

“…chamber music is one of the most powerful means for developing musical taste and understanding…”.

Having acquired technical skills by mastering the Western European traditions in the field of chamber writing, the musician, in addition, masters the Glinka tradition, having formed his own individual style, which is already evident in his early works.
Examples of chamber music include:

Quintet c-moll for piano and strings; "Tarantella" for piano four hands; "Polka" for piano four hands; String trio on the theme "How did I upset you"; Sextet, Quartet for flute, viola, oboe, cello, Piano and String Trio; String Quintet; 2 scherzos for piano four hands; four-hand "Allegretto"; vocal pieces; Quartet No. 1 A -dur (first performed in 1880 according to the manuscript); Quartet No. 2 in D —dur (1881).

Also, “Little Suite” for piano (orchestrated by A. Glazunov), “Paraphrases” (a musical joke created by the composers of the “Mighty Handful”, which aroused the admiration of Liszt and served as a pretext for attacks from musicians hostile to the “Kuchkist” direction, - notes V. Yakovlev). Among the vocal works are "The Song of the Dark Forest" (often performed as a choral work), the romances "For the shores of the distant homeland", "False Note", the ballad "Sea" and many others.

It was in chamber-vocal music, which is often called the “creative laboratory” of the composer, that for the first time, - points out A.N. The Sleeping Princess”, “The Song of the Dark Forest”).

And that is why the comprehension of the "monumental Borodin" runs through his chamber "sketches", "watercolors", "etudes".
All the composer's work contains and to some extent always combines two principles: the epic and the lyrical. In comparison with the music of other composers, Borodin's style is distinguished by calmness, sublimity, nobility, and balance.
Continuing to develop the paths outlined by M. Glinka, Borodin nevertheless said his word in the history of the development of Russian musical culture:

• Tchaikovsky, he is the creator of the Russian quartet genre.
• Russia and the East. Interest in the Eastern world was relevant even earlier, but it is this composer who has the theme of friendship (the symphonic picture “In Central Asia” vividly demonstrates, where Russian and Eastern themes develop, uniting in the end).

Works for piano

* Helene-Polka (1843)
* Requiem
* Little Suite (1885; orchestrated by A. Glazunov)
1. In the monastery
2. Intermezzo
3. Mazurka
4. Mazurka
5. Dreams
6 Serenade
7. Nocturne
* Scherzo in A flat major (1885; orchestrated by A. Glazunov)

Works for orchestra

* Symphony No. 1 in E flat major
1. Adagio. Allegro
2. Scherzo. Prestissimo
3. Andante
4. Allegro molto vivo
* Symphony No. 2 in B minor "Bogatyrskaya" (1869-1876; edited by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov and A. Glazunov)
1. Allegro
2. Scherzo. Prestissimo
3. Andante
4. Final. Allegro
* Symphony No. 3 in A minor (only two movements written; orchestrated by A. Glazunov)
1. Moderato assai. Poco piu mosso
2. Scherzo. Vivo
* In Central Asia (In the steppes of Central Asia), symphonic sketch

Concerts

* Concerto for flute and piano and orchestra (1847), lost

Chamber music

* Sonata for cello and piano in B minor (1860)
* Piano Quintet in C minor (1862)
* Piano trio in D major (1860-61)
* String trio (1847), lost
* String trio (1852-1856)
* String Trio (1855; unfinished)
o Andantino
* String trio (1850-1860)
* String Quartet No. 1 in A Major
1. Moderate. Allegro
2. Andante con moto
3. Scherzo. Prestissimo
4. Andante. Allegro risoluto
* String Quartet No. 2 in D Major
1. Allegro moderato
2. Scherzo. Allegro
3. Notturno. Andante
4.Final. Andante. Vivace
* Scherzo for string quartet (1882)
* Serenata alla spagnola for string quartet (1886)
* Quartet for flute, oboe, viola and cello (1852-1856)
* String Quintet in F major (1853-1854)
* Sextet in D minor (1860-1861; only two parts survive)

operas

* Heroes (1878)
* The Tsar's Bride (1867-1868, sketches, lost)
* Mlada (1872, IV act; The rest of the acts were written by C. Cui, N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov, M. Mussorgsky and L. Minkus)
* Prince Igor (edited and completed by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov and A. Glazunov)
The most famous number - Polovtsian dances.

Romances and songs

* Arabic melody. Words by A. Borodin
* For the shores of the distant homeland. Words by A. Pushkin
* From my tears. Words by G. Heine
* Beautiful fisherwoman. Words by G. Heine (for voice, cello and piano)
* Sea. Ballad. Words by A. Borodin
* Sea princess. Words by A. Borodin
* My songs are full of poison. Words by G. Heine
* Song of the dark forest (Old song). Words by A. Borodin
* A beautiful girl fell out of love ... (for voice, cello and piano)
* Listen, girlfriends, to my song (for voice, cello and piano)
* Arrogance. Words by A. K. Tolstoy
* Sleeping princess. Story. Words by A. Borodin
* People have something in the house. Song. Words by N. Nekrasov
* False note. Romance. Words by A. Borodin
* Why are you early, dawn ... Song
* Wonderful garden. Romance. Words C.G.

Borodin Alexander Porfiryevich(1833 – 1887),

Russian composer.

He is one of the remarkable representatives of Russian culture of the second half of the 19th century: a brilliant composer, an outstanding chemist, an active public figure, teacher, conductor, music critic, he also showed an outstanding literary talent.

However, Borodin entered the history of world culture primarily as a composer. He created not so many works, but they are distinguished by the depth and richness of content, variety of genres, classical harmony of forms. Most of them are connected with the Russian epic, with the story of the heroic deeds of the people. Borodin also has pages of heartfelt, sincere lyrics, jokes and gentle humor are not alien to him.

For the composer's musical style is characterized by a wide scope of narration, melodic(Borodin had the ability to compose in a folk song style), colorful harmonies, active dynamic striving. Continuing the traditions of M Glinka, in particular his opera "Ruslan and Lyudmila", Borodin created the Russian epic symphony, and also approved the type of Russian epic opera.

Alexander was born on October 31 (November 12), 1833 in St. Petersburg. He was the illegitimate son of an elderly Georgian prince Luka Gedianov and a serf Avdotya Antonova. The boy studied languages ​​​​at home - German, French, English (later he also mastered Italian). He showed an early interest in music: at the age of eight he began to take flute lessons, and then - on the piano and cello, at nine - he composed a polka for piano in 4 hands and at the age of fourteen he tried his hand at composing for a chamber ensemble.

However, most of all, Borodin was attracted not by music, but by chemistry, which became his profession. From 1850 to 1856 he was a volunteer at the St. Petersburg Medical and Surgical Academy, after graduation he was left there as a teacher and in 1858 received a doctorate in medicine.

Then Borodin was sent on a scientific mission to Western Europe (1859-1862). Abroad, he met a young Moscow amateur pianist Ekaterina Sergeevna Protopopova, playing music with whom he discovered the world of romantic music of Chopin, Liszt, Schumann. They soon got married. Upon his return to Russia, he was elected an adjunct professor in the Department of Chemistry of the Medico-Surgical Academy, and in 1864 - an ordinary professor (later head) of the same department.

Despite intensive studies in science, Borodin never left music: during this period he created string and piano quintets, a string sextet and other chamber works. Decisive in his musical biography was 1862, when Borodin met and became friends with the composer Mily Balakirev and his circle (later known as the New Russian School or "The Mighty Handful"), which consisted of Caesar Cui, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Modest Mussorgsky; under their influence, Borodin began work on a symphony in E-flat major.

Its completion was delayed due to the composer's workload in scientific, teaching and publishing activities (Borodin taught at Women's Medical Courses, edited the scientific journal Knowledge, etc.), but in 1867 the symphony was nevertheless completed, and in 1869 it was performed under the direction of Balakirev. By 1867–1868, Borodin’s work on the farce opera Bogatyri (a parody of the genre of romantic opera on a Russian historical theme, widespread at that time, using melodies by J. Offenbach, J. Meyerbeer, A. Serov, Russian songs, etc.) dates back to 1867–1868. ); at the same time he wrote several romances, which are masterpieces of Russian vocal lyrics.

A. Borodin. Romance "Sleeping Princess"

The success of the First Symphony prompted Borodin to continue working in this genre: in 1869, the idea of ​​a symphony in B-flat minor arose, but soon the composer abandoned him, attracted by the idea of ​​an opera based on the plot of the ancient Russian epic The Lay of Igor's Campaign. Soon the opera was also abandoned; part of the music composed for her was included in the Second Symphony, the completion of work on which dates back to 1875. From about 1874, Borodin returns to his operatic concept and continues to work from time to time on individual scenes of Prince Igor. However, by the time of the composer's death, the opera remained unfinished.

During this period, Borodin also wrote two string quartets (1879 and 1885), two parts of the Third Symphony in A minor, a musical picture for orchestra "In Central Asia" (1880), a number of romances and piano pieces. His music begins to be performed in Germany, Belgium and France, largely thanks to the assistance of Franz Liszt, with whom Borodin maintained a personal acquaintance.

The opera Prince Igor is undoubtedly Borodin's greatest creative achievement. It was completed and instrumented after the composer's death by his friends, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov, and was first staged in St. Petersburg in 1890. The Second and unfinished Third Symphonies, as well as the painting "In Central Asia" are close to the opera in their figurative structure: here the same world the heroic past of Russia, which brought to life music of remarkable power, extraordinary originality and bright color, sometimes marked by a rare sense of humor. Borodin did not stand out as a playwright, but his opera, thanks to its high musical merits, won the stages of the whole world.

Borodin died in St. Petersburg on February 15 (27), 1887 and was buried on Tikhvin cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

In memory of the outstanding scientist and composer were named:

A. P. Borodin State Quartet

Streets of Borodino in many settlements of Russia and other states

Assembly hall named after A.P. Borodin in the Russian Chemical Technical University. D. I. Mendeleev

Children's Music School named after A.P. Borodin in St. Petersburg.

Children's Music School named after A.P. Borodin No. 89 in Moscow.

Children's Music School named after A.P. Borodin No. 17 in Smolensk

Major works

operas

"Bogatyrs" (1867)

"Mlada" (together with other composers, 1872)

"Prince Igor" (1869-1887)

"The Tsar's Bride" (1867-1868, sketches, lost)

Works for orchestra

Symphony No. 1 Es-dur (1867)

Symphony No. 2 in b-moll "Bogatyrskaya" (1876)

Symphony No. 3 a-moll (1887, completed and orchestrated by Glazunov)

Symphonic picture "In Central Asia" (1880)

Chamber instrumental ensembles

string trio on the theme of the song “How did I upset you” (g-moll, 1854-55)