November 12, 2012.Borodin and more.Alexander Borodin, a Russian composer and famous chemist, was born on this day in St-Petersburg in 1833.He was an illegitimate son of a Georgian prince Luka Gedevanishvili, who had him registered as a son of one of his serfs, Porfiry Borodin.Thus, Alexander Lukich Gedevanishvili was transformed into Alexander Porfirievich Borodin.Alexander received a good education, and took some music lessons (that he was gifted became clear very early on – when he was nine he composed several small pieces), but at the age of 10 he fell in love with chemistry.At 17 he entered the prestigious Medico-Surgical Academy and upon graduating pursued a career of surgeon and chemist, taking additional studies in Heidelberg and in Italy.In 1862, Borodin became a professor of chemistry at the same Academy and taught chemistry there for the rest of his life.His research in chemistry was significant and he became one of the most respected scientists in Russia; the famous Mendeleev, the inventor of the periodic table, was his good friend and colleague.All along, music was a love and a hobby to Borodin, second in priority.The same year he became a professor at the Academy, Borodin met the composer Mily Balakirev and stared taking composition lessons with him.His First Symphony, written in 1867, is not performed often, but the Second one (“Bogatyr”), became very popular.In 1879 he wrote the String Quartet no. 1, two years later, the Second String quartet.Borodin worked on his main composition, the opera Prince Igor, for 18 years.It still wasn’t finished at the time of his premature death on February 27, 1887, at the age of 53.Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov completed the opera and the orchestration based on the materials left after Borodin’s death.The opera was first performed in 1890 at the Mariinsky Theater in St-Petersburg to great acclaim.It remains his masterpiece and one of the best known and loved Russian operas.
Borodin’s name was given to one of the most unique ensembles, the Borodin Quartet.It is probably the oldest continuously performing quartet in modern history.The quartet was formed in 1944 by the students of Moscow Conservatory.Mstislav Rostorpovich was the first cellist, but very soon he withdrew and Valentin Berlinsky took his place.Rudolf Barshai was the original viola player; he later founded the Moscow Chamber Orchestra.The quartet first performed publicly in 1946 under the name of the Moscow Philharmonic Quartet.It became known as the Borodin Quartet in 1955, Borodin of course being the founder of the Russian quartet tradition.For many years the Quartet worked very closely with the composer Dmitry Shostakovich, whom they first met in 1946; all of Shostakovich’s quartets were in their repertory.Also, they often performed with the great pianist Sviatoslav Richter.Valentin Berlinsky, the cellist, performed continuously from 1944 to 2007, for an amazing 62 years; he died just one year later at the age of 83.
We’ll hear the 3rd movement of Borodin’s quartet no. 2, Notturno, performed by the Borodin Quartet and recorded in 1965 (here, courtesy of YouTube).
Two prominent 20th century composers were also born this week: Aaron Copland, on November 14, 1900, and Paul Hindemith on November 16, 1895.We’ll present them at a later date.
Borodin and more 2012
November 12, 2012. Borodin and more. Alexander Borodin, a Russian composer and famous chemist, was born on this day in St-Petersburg in 1833. He was an illegitimate son of a Georgian prince Luka Gedevanishvili, who had him registered as a
son of one of his serfs, Porfiry Borodin. Thus, Alexander Lukich Gedevanishvili was transformed into Alexander Porfirievich Borodin. Alexander received a good education, and took some music lessons (that he was gifted became clear very early on – when he was nine he composed several small pieces), but at the age of 10 he fell in love with chemistry. At 17 he entered the prestigious Medico-Surgical Academy and upon graduating pursued a career of surgeon and chemist, taking additional studies in Heidelberg and in Italy. In 1862, Borodin became a professor of chemistry at the same Academy and taught chemistry there for the rest of his life. His research in chemistry was significant and he became one of the most respected scientists in Russia; the famous Mendeleev, the inventor of the periodic table, was his good friend and colleague. All along, music was a love and a hobby to Borodin, second in priority. The same year he became a professor at the Academy, Borodin met the composer Mily Balakirev and stared taking composition lessons with him. His First Symphony, written in 1867, is not performed often, but the Second one (“Bogatyr”), became very popular. In 1879 he wrote the String Quartet no. 1, two years later, the Second String quartet. Borodin worked on his main composition, the opera Prince Igor, for 18 years. It still wasn’t finished at the time of his premature death on February 27, 1887, at the age of 53. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov completed the opera and the orchestration based on the materials left after Borodin’s death. The opera was first performed in 1890 at the Mariinsky Theater in St-Petersburg to great acclaim. It remains his masterpiece and one of the best known and loved Russian operas.
Borodin’s name was given to one of the most unique ensembles, the Borodin Quartet. It is probably the oldest continuously performing quartet in modern history. The quartet was formed in 1944 by the students of Moscow Conservatory. Mstislav Rostorpovich was the first cellist, but very soon he withdrew and Valentin Berlinsky took his place. Rudolf Barshai was the original viola player; he later founded the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. The quartet first performed publicly in 1946 under the name of the Moscow Philharmonic Quartet. It became known as the Borodin Quartet in 1955, Borodin of course being the founder of the Russian quartet tradition. For many years the Quartet worked very closely with the composer Dmitry Shostakovich, whom they first met in 1946; all of Shostakovich’s quartets were in their repertory. Also, they often performed with the great pianist Sviatoslav Richter. Valentin Berlinsky, the cellist, performed continuously from 1944 to 2007, for an amazing 62 years; he died just one year later at the age of 83.
We’ll hear the 3rd movement of Borodin’s quartet no. 2, Notturno, performed by the Borodin Quartet and recorded in 1965 (here, courtesy of YouTube).
Two prominent 20th century composers were also born this week: Aaron Copland, on November 14, 1900, and Paul Hindemith on November 16, 1895. We’ll present them at a later date.