Contact
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)
Artist: Alexander Borodin
Author: Alexander Borodin
Year: 1888
"Gliding Dance of the Maidens" in Act 2 of this chemist/composer's opera Prince Igor, finished posthumously by Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov in 1888. It's about the 12th century clash of civilizations between Russians and Polovetsian nomads. The scene: the Prince as a captive of the nomads is force-fed erotic dances, performed by the most exotic slaves of the Khan, to loosen-up negotiations. Borodin who was a chemist by trade, wrote music on the side, just to relax. Read Charles Bukowski's poem The Life Of Borodin.
Covers:
Doretta Morrow & Richard Kiley [as Stranger In Paradise in Broadway musical Kismet, landing Borodin a merited posthumous Tony Award; Kismet was entirely based on his music (see also: Second String Quartet)]
Gordon MacRae [idem]
Tony Bennett [n°1 UK]
Gloria Lasso [millionseller in France]
Matt Monro [all as Stranger In Paradise]
Julio Iglesias [as Quereme, hit B & NL]
José Carreras [as My Own Little Miracle]
Warren G & Rhapsody & Sissel [in Prince Igor; hit UK, B & NL]
Borodin's gravestone in St. Petersburg holds the musical notation of the theme from Polovetsian Dances, borrowed for Stranger in Paradise.
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)