Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Leopoldovich "Slava" Rostropovichwas a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He is considered to be one of the great cellists of the 20th century. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was well known for both inspiring and commissioning new works, which enlarged the cello repertoire more than any cellist before or since. He gave the premieres of over 100 pieces, forming long-standing friendships and artistic partnerships with composers including Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofiev, Henri Dutilleux, Witold Lutosławski,...
NationalityRussian
ProfessionCellist
Date of Birth27 March 1927
CountryRussian Federation
I would rather have ideas and some difficulties of technique than a perfect technique and no ideas.
I came to Moscow when I was 5 years old from Baku. To walk all night in Moscow will bring back my youth to me.
In 1948 the first severe crash occurred in my life when Stalin put out his decree on formalism. There was a bulletin board in the Moscow Conservatory. They posted the decree, which said Shostakovichs compositions and Prokofievs were no longer to be played.