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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

This majestically beautiful theme from the Polovtsian Dances, included in Alexander Borodin's opera, Prince Igor, inspired Robert Wright and George Forrest to write the equally stunning song A Stranger in Paradise, in their later show Kismet. It also became a very well-known top of the pops song. Borodin's music was attracting the interest of Western musicians, and would have had a strong influence on composers like Arthur Sullivan.

The original Russian title for the opera was Knaz Igor. The dances in the opera were staged by Khan Konchak to entertain his royal prisoners, Prince Igor and his son Vladimir. The dances were first choreographed by Ivanov, in St Petersburg on 4 November 1890. Later they were revised for presentation by Fokine in Diaghilev's Paris season, as Paris found the original dances startlingly wild and vigorous!

They have been universally popular, and are still danced today. Moreover the music has become an international classic in concert performance.

Modern followers of stage and pop will recognise the words from the Kismet production. This is a duet in the show, sung by Marsinah and The Caliph, who fall for each other in a big way in Paradise Garden. The pop song was written as a solo. These words won't fit the tune in this case, for that you will need to get the score, or a disc of Kismet. But listen to Alexander and dream your own dreams:

Oh, why do the leaves of the mulberry tree
Whisper differently now?
And why is the nightingale singing at noon
On the mulberry bough?
For some most mysterious reason
This isn't the garden I know . . .
No, it's Paradise now
That was only a garden a moment ago!

Take my hand,
I'm a stranger in Paradise
All lost in a wonderland,
A stranger in paradise.
If I stand starry eyed,
That's a danger in paradise . . .
For mortals who stand beside . . .
An angel like you . . .

Haven't we all felt like this at some time or other, with the right person in the right place . . .? You will no doubt now be moved to hear a live performance or disc of The Polovtsian Dances or Kismet (or both). Dancer or not, we are confident you will be pleased with either. In the meantime we hope you have enjoyed our MusicSmiles arrangement . . .

Continuing the theme, how about a Barcarolle in Venice?

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