The Polovtsian Dances form a scene with chorus in Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin’s opera Prince Igor. At the composer’s death in 1887, the dances were completed and orchestrated, but the opera as a whole remained unfinished and was completed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov until its premiere in 1890. As is so often the case, there are several versions of this opera and the dances appear at the end of the first or second act, depending on the version.
Themes from the Polovtsian Dances have been widely used in popular music, either adapted from the original, usually titled Theme from Polovtsian Dances, or reworked as in the song My Fantasy by Paul Whiteman in 1939 and Artie Shaw in 1940. The musical Kismet, although set in ancient Baghdad, is largely based on Borodin’s music, adapted and with lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest. Based on the Gliding Dance of the Maidens from the Polovtsian Dances, the song Stranger in Paradise in particular became a standard in pop and jazz after its premiere in August 1953. A duet in the musical, the song was mostly recorded by soloists or groups, including Sammy Davis Jr., The Supremes and Isaac Hayes.
Internationally, Stranger in Paradise was first released in November 1953 by Vic Damone with Richard Hayman and his orchestra, The Four Aces featuring Al Alberts with the Jack Pleis Orchestra and Tony Bennett with Percy Faith and his orchestra. Vic Damone also performed Stranger in Paradise with Ann Blyth in the 1955 film version of Kismet.
In Brazil, themes from the Polovtsian Dances were recorded at least seven times with the title Príncipe Igor, first apparently by Léo Peracchi in 1953, followed by Waldemiro Lemke, Severino Filho, Os Violinos Mágicos and Sidney, among others.
Stranger in Paradise was recorded over 40 times, first in 1954 by organist Steve Bernard, followed by Guio de Morais, Manfredo Fest, Geraldo Miranda, Sandoval Dias, Waldir Calmon and Henrique Simonetti, among others. Also in 1954, Jorge Neves Bastos, better known as Jorge Goulart, recorded the first vocal version, which was released in January 1955 titled Estranho no Paraíso with adapted lyrics by Giuseppe Artidoro Ghiaroni.
Selected recordings of Príncipe Igor:
1. Léo Peracchi from the album Música de Champagne (1953, Musidisc M-005)
2. Orquestra Brasileira de Espetáculos from the album Boleros em Orquestra Vol. 2 (1962, Columbia LPCB 37220)
3. Orquestra Serenata Tropical from the album Rumbas Solamente Rumbas (1963, Plaza PZ-7002), also released as Blue Star and his Romantic Orchestra from the album Show de Rumbas (1970, Tropicana/CBS)
Selected recordings of Stranger in Paradise:
1. Steve Bernard from the single Stranger in Paradise b/w La Petite Valse (1954, Sinter 00-00.356) and the album Steve Bernard e Sua Arte (1954, Sinter SLP 1014)
2. Jorge Goulart from the single Sorri (Smile) b/w Estranho no Paraíso (Stranger in Paradise) (1955, Continental 17.045)
3. Roberto Amaral from the single Estranho no Paraíso (Stranger in Pradise) b/w Na Fonte dos Sonhos (Three Coins in the Fountain) (1955, Odeon 13.809)
4. Robledo from the album Robledo’s Bar (1955, Columbia LPCB 35005)
5. Ângelo Apolônio ‘Poly’ from the single Jamie b/w Stranger in Paradise (1955, Todamérica TA-5.510)
6. Ribamar from the album Dançando com Ribamar (1956, Columbia LPCB 35020)
7. Al Quincas from the album Cocktail Para Dois (1957, Musidisc DL-1013)
8. Manoel Araújo, Jayme Araújo e Zé Bodega from the album Boleros e Romance (1958, Polydor LPNG 4024)
9. Lindolpho Gaya from the album Em Tempo de Dança Vol. 2 (1958, RCA Victor BPL 20)
10. Ruy Rey from the album Ritmos Ritmos Ritmos (1960, Continental LPP 3119)
11. Orquestra Brasileira de Danças from the album Uma Orquestra em Ritmo de Samba (1960, Philips P 630.403 L)
Artwork for Uma Orquestra em Ritmo de Samba by Ronald with photograpph by Rogivati
12. Tânia Maria from the album Para Dançar Vol. 2 (1963, Entré/CBS 4013)
13. Zito Righi aka Bob Fleming from the album Bob Fleming no Cinema (1963, Musidisc XPL-29)
Artwork for Bob Fleming no Cinema by Joselito with photograpph by Mafra
14. Dalva de Andrade from the album A Luminosa Estrela (1965, Philips P 632.766 L)
15. Carioca from the album Cha Cha Cha Explosivo (1965, Imperial/Odeon IMP 30.038)
16. The Rock Fingers from the album Hot Line (1967, Beverly STLP-80917)
Selected medleys including Stranger in Paradise:
1. Orquestra Românticos de Cuba from the album Românticos de Cuba no Cinema – Vol. 3 (1963, Musidisc XPL-28)
Comparative recording of the Polovtsian Dances:
1. USSR State Symphony Orchestra and the Grand Academic Choir of All-Union National Radio Service and Central Television Networks conducted by Evgeny Svetlanov from the album Evgeny Svetlanov: Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin, Tchaikovsky (1975, Firma Melodiya)
Comparative recordings of Stranger in Paradise:
1. Vic Damone from the singles Stranger in Paradise b/w A Village in Peru (1953, Mercury [USA] 70269-X45) and the album Favorites (1957, Mercury [USA] MG 20193)
2. The Four Aces featuring Al Alberts from the single Stranger in Paradise b/w The Gang That Sang “Heart of My Heart” (1953, Decca [USA] 28927)
3. Tony Bennett from the single Stranger in Paradise b/w Why Does it Have to Be Me (1953, Columbia [USA] 40121)
STRANGER IN PARADISE
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 • Mortals who stand beside • An angels like us
I saw her face • And I ascended • Out of the common place • Into the rarest • Somewhere in space • I hang suspended • Until I know • There’s a chance that she cares
Won’t you answer this fervent prayer? • Of a stranger in paradise • Don’t send me in dark despair • From all that I hunger for • But open your angel’s arms • To this strangers in paradise • And tell us that we need be • Strangers no more
Brazilliance 