Alexander Borodin

The Profile

Alexander Borodin (1833–1887) was a Russian composer and chemist, part of the ‘Mighty Handful’ (The Five). His opera Prince Igor, left unfinished at his death, was completed by Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov. He is also known for In the Steppes of Central Asia, Symphony No. 2, and the String Quartet No. 2.

Russian composer and chemist; member of The Five; active primarily in the 1860s–1887; advocate for women’s education in science; Prince Igor completed posthumously by Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov.

A passionate deep-dive into Borodin’s Prince Igor, spotlighting its grand-opera architecture, incomplete libretto, and posthumous completion by Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov. The review praises the vocal writing and the towering second act with the Polovtsian Dances. It notes narrative gaps but celebrates the opera’s epic scope and thematic richness. Overall, a glowing endorsement of Borodin’s musical imagination.