2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin is a great Russian composer, scientist and chemist. Throughout his life, he successfully combined these two completely different hobbies. In both areas, he achieved unprecedented success, leaving behind a deep mark both in music and in chemistry. The biography of Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin is the life story of a multi-talented, truly brilliant person.
Childhood
The origin of Alexander Borodin is unusual for our time, but typical for that era. His father was Luka Stepanovich Gedianov, a 62-year-old Georgian prince. Mother - Avdotya Konstantinovna Antonova, 20-year-old daughter of a military man. Born on November 12, 1833, an illegitimate child, he received the patronymic and surname of the prince's valet, Porfiry Borodin, as he was recorded as the son of Porfiry and his wife.
After 10 years, the prince died, having previously issued his "serf" a free andbuying him and his mother a big house. In addition, his mother was married to a military doctor.
Education
The mother of the future composer and chemist paid great attention to her son's education. The best teachers studied with him, so he received an excellent education. From early childhood, his musical talent became apparent. Alexander was taught to play the piano and flute, and later - the cello. With great enthusiasm, he studied music and even composed. His first works were published through the efforts of his mother, the world learned about the 16-year-old composer. Simultaneously with music lessons, he began to get involved in chemistry. He performed all sorts of experiments, horrifying his mother.
When the boy was 17 years old, it was necessary to continue his studies at an educational institution. But the serf origin did not give Alexander the opportunity to study. For a large bribe, the mother bought a merchant title. He was not too high, but gave the right to study at the Medical and Surgical Academy, where Borodin successfully entered. In the process of studying at the academy, he proved himself to be a very capable and promising student. Professor N. N. Zinin became his mentor. Training took him a lot of time. Nevertheless, Borodin does not leave music lessons. He composes a lot, attends concerts.
Foreign business trip
When he finished his studies at the academy, Alexander Borodin was appointed to the position of an intern at the Military Land Hospital. It was there that he met MP Mussorgsky, who was undergoing treatment. In addition, heworks as an assistant at the Department of General Therapy and Pathology.
In 1958, Borodin defended his dissertation, as a result of which he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
In the autumn Alexander Porfiryevich goes to Germany. There, at the University of Heidelberg, he improves his knowledge of chemistry. On a business trip abroad, Borodin communicates a lot with young scientists, among them Mendeleev, Sechenov, Botkin and others. Later he goes to France, Switzerland, Holland.
Private life
On his return to Heidelberg in 1861, he met the pianist Ekaterina Sergeevna Protopopova, who was in Germany for treatment. She reawakened Borodin's interest in music, which was beginning to fade. Soon, due to deteriorating he alth, she travels to Italy. Alexander Porfiryevich accompanies his bride. In Italy, he communicates with chemists at the University of Pisa, who provide him with the opportunity to work in the laboratory. In addition, Borodin is a regular visitor to the opera and symphony concerts. At this time, he composes instrumental pieces.
Returning to Russia, Borodin left his bride in Moscow, and he went to St. Petersburg, where he was appointed to the position of adjunct professor at the Medical and Surgical Academy. A small salary, the lack of favorable living conditions forced Borodin to postpone the wedding. It took place only in the spring of 1863. His family experienced financial difficulties throughout his life, which forced Alexander to work hard - teach, translate.
Borodin-composer
In the autumn of 1862, Borodin met M. Balakirev, who at that time headed the composers' circle "The Mighty Handful", which included N. Rimsky-Korsakov, M. Mussorgsky, C. Cui, critic V. Stasov.
Balakirev immediately noticed the originality of Borodin's musical talent. He suggested that he seriously take up composing a symphony. This composition lasted five years, as the composer was too busy with scientific, teaching and social work. The first symphony of Alexander Borodin was successfully performed in St. Petersburg under the direction of Balakirev. This inspired the composer to create the next, Second Symphony, work on which lasted for seven years. At the same time, he begins to write the opera Prince Igor.
The Polovtsian dances of Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin, due to their original color, will later become one of the brightest and most performed numbers of this opera. He worked on it for eighteen years. Borodin the composer was very demanding of his work. Being a scientist, he did not tolerate amateurism in his writings. His music is distinguished by an individual composer's style, which is characterized by an appeal to Russian and Eastern melodics, epic images, and a harmonious form. Unfortunately, Borodin was constantly distracted from his studies by the disorder of home life, the constant illnesses of his wife, scientific and social work. That is why the composition of the works progressed rather slowly.
Borodin-chemist and public figure
Borodin's career as a chemist was very successful. In 1864 he became a full professor. Since 1874, he has been in charge of the chemical laboratory. In 1877, Alexander Porfiryevich became an academician of the Medico-Surgical Academy. He is one of the founders of the Higher Women's Courses. In addition, Borodin does a lot of social work. He became one of the founders of the Russian Chemical Society, one of the leaders of the Russian Musical Society, worked in the Society of Russian Doctors. Alexander Borodin is the creator and leader of the choir and orchestra at the Medical and Surgical Academy, with whom he performed many charity concerts.
Family worries, constant care for a sick wife, overwhelming workloads and social activities crippled Borodin's he alth. During the last year of his life, he was constantly troubled by pain in the region of the heart. Death overtook Alexander Porfirievich on February 15, 1887, in the midst of a costume party, which he arranged at his home. He died suddenly from a broken heart.
Borodin lived a short but very eventful life. And the music of Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin has rightfully entered the treasury of world musical culture.
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