Mstislav Rostropovich

Mstislav Rostropovich (27 March 1927 – 27 April 2007) was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was known for his great skill and for encouraging composers to write new music for the cello. Because of him, many new pieces were written for the cello, more than any other cellist before.

Rostropovich worked with famous composers such as Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofiev, and Benjamin Britten. He played and helped create over 100 new pieces, making many friends.

Besides his music, Rostropovich also spoke up for human rights. In 1974, he received an award from the International League of Human Rights for his work. He was married to the famous singer Galina Vishnevskaya and had two daughters. Throughout his life, he earned many honors, including the Polar Music Prize.

Early years

Mstislav Rostropovich was born in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR. His parents were from Orenburg in Russia. His father, Leopold, was a famous cellist who studied with Pablo Casals. His mother, Sofiya, was a skilled pianist.

Rostropovich grew up in Baku but moved during World War II. He started playing the piano at age four with his mother and began the cello at age eight with his father. When he was 16, he joined the Moscow Conservatory, where he learned from great teachers like Dmitri Shostakovich. He became well-known in 1945 when he won a gold medal in a competition for young musicians. He finished his studies in 1948 and began teaching cello there in 1956.

First concerts

Rostropovich gave his first cello concert in 1942. He won top prizes at music contests in Prague and Budapest in the late 1940s. In 1950, at just 23 years old, he received a major award in the Soviet Union. By this time, he was already famous and taught at music schools in Leningrad and Moscow. In 1955, he married Galina Vishnevskaya, a well-known singer at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Rostropovich worked closely with many famous composers. Nikolai Myaskovsky wrote a piece just for him, and they played it together. Sergei Prokofiev wrote his Cello Sonata because of Rostropovich’s playing. Rostropovich also played the first performances of many pieces by Dmitry Shostakovich. He traveled to Western Europe and met other composers like Benjamin Britten, who wrote several works for him. Rostropovich also worked with Henri Dutilleux, Witold Lutosławski, Krzysztof Penderecki, Luciano Berio, and Olivier Messiaen.

August 1968 proms

Rostropovich played at The Proms on 21 August 1968. He performed with the USSR State Symphony Orchestra for the first time at the Proms. The show had a piece by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák called the Cello Concerto in B minor. This happened the same day that the Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia. Even though there were some protests before the show, the audience cheered the orchestra and Rostropovich afterward. As a sign of support for the people in Prague, Rostropovich held up the music score for the Dvořák piece.

Exile

Mstislav Rostropovich believed in art that could reach everyone and in speaking freely. This led to trouble with the leaders of the Soviet Union. When he was a student in 1948, he left his music school to protest unfair treatment of his teacher, Dmitri Shostakovich. Rostropovich also helped share important music with the world.

In 1970, he invited a writer named Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn to stay safe in his home. Because of his support for people who spoke out, Rostropovich faced many restrictions. He was not allowed to travel or perform as often.

In 1974, Rostropovich moved to the United States with his family. He was not allowed back to perform in his home country for many years. He only returned in 1990, after many changes had taken place.

Further career

On December 17, 1988, Rostropovich played a special concert at the Barbican Hall in London. He had delayed a trip to India to help after the 1988 Armenian earthquake. The concert was part of a global effort called Musicians for Armenia, to raise money through donations and concert proceeds. Prince Charles and the Princess of Wales attended.

In February 1989, another concert was held at the Kennedy Center to support earthquake victims. Rostropovich played pieces by Dvořák, Haydn, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich. From 1977 to 1994, he was the music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. He performed with famous musicians like Martha Argerich, Sviatoslav Richter, and Vladimir Horowitz.

During the fall of the Berlin Wall, Rostropovich gave an impromptu performance. In 1991, when there were problems in Moscow, he traveled there hoping his fame might help. He supported leaders during difficult times and conducted orchestras in important places. Rostropovich helped start the Kronberg Academy in 1993 and worked with composer Rodion Shchedrin.

He received many awards and supported freedom in art and politics. As an ambassador for the UNESCO, he helped with educational projects. With his wife, he founded the Rostropovich-Vishnevskaya Foundation to help children in need. In 2002, a museum dedicated to him opened in Baku. In 2006, a documentary about his life was released.

Later life

Mstislav Rostropovich's health began to decline in 2006. He received treatment for an illness. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited him and talked about plans for his 80th birthday celebration. Even though he was frail, Rostropovich attended the celebration.

Rostropovich lived in several cities, including Paris, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, London, Lausanne, and Jordanville, New York. In early 2007, he was admitted to a hospital in Moscow but later returned to a cancer research center for treatment. He passed away on 27 April 2007 at the age of 80. His funeral was held at the Moscow Conservatory and the Church of Christ the Saviour, with many people attending, including leaders from different countries. He was buried in Novodevichy Cemetery.

Stature

Mstislav Rostropovich was very important for young cello players. Many say they learned a lot from him. One famous cello player, Julian Lloyd Webber, said he was maybe the greatest cellist ever.

Rostropovich helped create many new pieces of music for the cello. He worked with famous composers like Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofiev, and Benjamin Britten. He was the first to play more than 100 new pieces, which made cello music much bigger. He was also famous for playing well-known pieces, like Dvořák's Cello Concerto.

He helped develop a special curved bow called the BACH.Bow with another cellist, Michael Bach. The city of Moscow made a statue of him in 2012. Rostropovich was also very kind. He once flew to Tokyo to play music for a friend whose baby had died, to show his sympathy.

Awards and recognition

Mstislav Rostropovich received many awards for his talent and hard work. Countries around the world honored him for his music.

He earned important awards from Russia and other places, including medals for his help during important times. He also received special titles for being a top musician.

Rostropovich got many honors from countries such as France, Japan, and the United States. These awards showed how much people valued his music. He was made an honorary citizen of cities like Orenburg in Russia and Vilnius in Lithuania. Universities gave him special degrees, and he won prizes like the Grammy Award for his music.