biographical info
Alexander Borodin was a Russian romantic composer and chemis who was born in November, 1833 in St. Petersburg, the illegitimate son of a Georgian prince and a doctor's wife.
He was a member of a group of composers called The Five, or "The Mighty Handful", who devoted thmselves to creating Russian-influenced art music.
He is best known for his symphonies, his string quartets and his opera Prince Igor, which was later adapted for the American musical Kismet. His music is known for its lyricism and rich harmonies.
In chemistry, he was highly respected, and known for his work on aldehydes.
In 1954, Borodin was given a posthumous Tony Award for his compositions that appeared in the 1953 music Kismet by Robert Wright and George Forrest.
He died while attending a ball in St. Petersburg on February 27, 1887.