Alexander Borodin

Although he worked as a chemist, Alexander Borodin (Алекса́ндр Бороди́н) was a prolific composer. As one of the 'Mighty Handful', he used his compositions to create the distinctive sound of Russian classical music. His music is greatly influenced by traditional instruments from Russia and the surrounding regions, and feature many folk melodies.

He wrote only one opera, the grand Prince Igor, but he is attributed as a composer posthumously as the melodies of one of his string quartets was adapted for the 1953 musical Kismet.