Aleksandr Porfiryevich Borodin
Classical Surrealism
About
Aleksandr Borodin was a Russian Romantic composer and chemist of Georgian-Russian parentage, born as the illegitimate son of Prince Luka Gedevanishvili. He displayed early musical talent, self-teaching the cello and composing string works and salon music while pursuing scientific studies at the Medico-Surgical Academy in St. Petersburg, graduating with highest honors in 1856. After further studies in Europe (1859-1862), including Heidelberg where he befriended Dmitry Mendeleev, he returned to Russia as a professor of chemistry at the Medico-Surgical Academy, balancing a distinguished scientific career with music composition.