Alexander Porfirevich Borodin (1833-1887) was a Russian doctor, famous organic chemist, and famous musical composer. At the age of 19, he received a Doctor of Medicine degree at the Medical and Surgical Academy of St. Petersburg and soon began working at St. Petersburg’s Military hospital. In parallel, he was successfully engaged in scientific work under the guidance of the great Russian chemist Nikolai Zinin (1812-1880). A phrase by Prof. Zinin about Borodin’s passion for musical composing show us what a talented scientist Borodin was:
– Mr. Borodin, deal less with romances. I put all my hopes on you to prepare my substitute, but you think about music and two birds with one stone.
In 1859, Borodin went on a scientific internship to Europe, where for several years he had practiced organic synthesis under the supervision of famous scientists in Heidelberg, Paris, and Pisa. In 1861 in Heidelberg, Borodin investigated the reaction of silver salts of carboxylic acids with a halogen to produce an organic halide (the Hunsdiecker–Borodin reaction). In 1862 he returned to Russia and took the vacancy of a professor at the Medical and Surgical Academy in St. Petersburg.
In St. Petersburg, he met the famous composer M. A. Balakirev (1836 – 1910), the head of the Mighty Handful or The Mighty Five: A group of five prominent Russian composers who worked together. In 1867 Borodin composed his first symphony and a series of epic and lyrical romances. He began working on the opera “Prince Igor” in April 1869. The composer prepared for this work for a long time. He had investigated ancient chronicles and researches about the Polovtsians and their historical places. He worked on the opera for 18 years but did not complete it because of the sudden death in February 1887. After Borodin’s death, A. K. Glazunov (1865-1936) and N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) restored the overture and composed the missing parts of the opera. The opera premiered on 23 October 1890 at the St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater.
Borodin was married to a talented pianist Ekaterina Sergeevna Protopopova. The spouses did not have their own children, and they adopted two orphan girls. Alexander Porfirevich loved very much and took care of his wife and the girls all his life.
Like many geniuses, Borodin had some harmless oddities. Here are some anecdotes about him:
Once Borodin went abroad with his wife. While checking passports at the border checkpoint, the official asked the name of his wife. Borodin could not remember her name no matter how hard he tried. The official started to look at him suspiciously. At this moment, Ekaterina Sergeevna entered the room, and Borodin rushed to her:
– Katya*! For heaven’s sake, what’s your name?
*Katya is a short name for Ekaterina.
Once Borodin invited friends to his place. They played their musical works, dined, and talked.
Suddenly Borodin got up and began to say goodbye.
– Where are you going, Alexander Porfirevich?
– Be healthy, I have no time, it’s time to go home by now – I have a lecture tomorrow…
There was a burst of laughter, and only then Borodin realized that he was at his own home.
Once, worrying that during his absence one of his friends might come, Borodin pinned a note to the front door: “I’ll be back in an hour!” and left for his businesses. Returning home, he saw the note and sadly noted:
– This is so pity! Well, nothing can be done – I have to wait…
And, sighing, he sat on the bench, waiting… for himself.
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