Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin (Russian: ÐлекÑандр Порфирьевич Бородин, Aleksandr Porfir'eviÄ Borodin) (12 November [O.S. 31 October] 1833 – 27 February [O.S. 15 February] 1887) was a Russian Romantic composer of Georgian-Russian parentage who made his living as a notable chemist. He was a member of the group of composers called The Five (or "The Mighty Handful"), who were dedicated to producing a specifically Russian kind of art music.[1][2][3] He is best known for his symphonies, his two string quartets, and his opera Prince Igor. Music from Prince Igor and his string quartets was later adapted for the musical Kismet.
Borodin was born in Saint Petersburg, the illegitimate son of a Georgian prince (Tavadi), Luka Gedevanishvili (Georgian: ლუკრსიმáƒáƒœáƒ˜áƒ¡ ძე გედევáƒáƒœáƒ˜áƒ¨áƒ•áƒ˜áƒšáƒ˜) and a Russian mother, the 25 year old Evdokia Konstantinovna Antonova (ЕвдокиÑ.