Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich was a Russian cellist and conductor, bor… Read Full Bio ↴Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich was a Russian cellist and conductor, born March 27, 1927, in Baku USSR. He is considered one of the greatest cellists ever.
First concerts
Rostropovich gave his first cello concert in 1942. From 1943 to 1948, he studied at the Moscow Conservatory, where he became professor of cello in 1956. He won first prize at the international Music Awards of Prague and Budapest in 1947, 1949 and 1950. In 1950, at the age of 23 he was awarded the Stalin Prize, then considered the highest distinction in the Soviet Union. At that time, Rostropovich was already well known in his country and while actively pursuing his solo career, he taught at the Leningrad Conservatory (now Saint-Petersburg) and the Moscow Conservatory. In 1955, he married Galina Vishnevskaya, soprano at the Bolshoi Theatre.
His international career started in 1964 in the then West Germany. As of this date, he went on several tours in the western Europe and met several composers, including Benjamin Britten. In 1967, he conducted Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin at the Bolshoi, thus letting forth his passion for both the role of conductor and the opera.
Exile
Rostropovich fought for art without borders, freedom of speech and democratic values, resulting in a reprimand from the Soviet regime. His friendship with Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and his support for dissidents led to official disgrace in the early 1970s. He was banned from several musical ensembles and his Soviet citizenship was revoked in 1978 because of his public opposition to the USSR's restriction of cultural freedom. Rostropovich left the USSR in 1974 with his wife and children and settled in the United States.
Further career
His talent inspired compositions from numerous composers such as Shostakovich, Khachaturian, Prokofiev, Britten, Dutilleux, Bernstein and Penderecki. He and fellow Soviet composer Dmitri Kabalevsky completed Prokofiev's Cello Concertino after the composer's death. Rostropovich gave the first performances of both Shostakovich's cello concertos. Rostropovich introduced Shostakovich's First Concerto to London and began an association with Benjamin Britten. Britten wrote the Cello Sonata, 3 Solo Suites and the Cello Symphony with Rostropovich in mind.
From 1977 until 1994, he was musical director and conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington, DC. He is also the director and founder of many music festivals (Aldeburgh, Rostropovitch Festival), while still performing with some of the most famous musicians such as Sviatoslav Richter and Vladimir Horowitz.
His impromptu performance during the Fall of the Berlin Wall as events unfolded earned him international fame and was shown on television throughout the world.
His Russian citizenship was restored in 1990, although he and his family had already become American citizens.
Rostropovich received many international awards, including the French Legion of Honor, and honorary doctorates from the most prestigious international universities. He was an activist, fighting for freedom of expression in art and politics. An ambassador for the UNESCO, he supported many educational and cultural projects. Rostropovich and his wife, Galina Vishnevskaya, started a foundation to stimulate social projects and activities. Rostropovich Home Museum opened on March 4, 2002, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Rostropovich died in Moscow on April 27th, 2007.
Rostropovich's instrument was the 1711 Duport Stradivarius, considered to be one of the greatest instruments ever made.
First concerts
Rostropovich gave his first cello concert in 1942. From 1943 to 1948, he studied at the Moscow Conservatory, where he became professor of cello in 1956. He won first prize at the international Music Awards of Prague and Budapest in 1947, 1949 and 1950. In 1950, at the age of 23 he was awarded the Stalin Prize, then considered the highest distinction in the Soviet Union. At that time, Rostropovich was already well known in his country and while actively pursuing his solo career, he taught at the Leningrad Conservatory (now Saint-Petersburg) and the Moscow Conservatory. In 1955, he married Galina Vishnevskaya, soprano at the Bolshoi Theatre.
His international career started in 1964 in the then West Germany. As of this date, he went on several tours in the western Europe and met several composers, including Benjamin Britten. In 1967, he conducted Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin at the Bolshoi, thus letting forth his passion for both the role of conductor and the opera.
Exile
Rostropovich fought for art without borders, freedom of speech and democratic values, resulting in a reprimand from the Soviet regime. His friendship with Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and his support for dissidents led to official disgrace in the early 1970s. He was banned from several musical ensembles and his Soviet citizenship was revoked in 1978 because of his public opposition to the USSR's restriction of cultural freedom. Rostropovich left the USSR in 1974 with his wife and children and settled in the United States.
Further career
His talent inspired compositions from numerous composers such as Shostakovich, Khachaturian, Prokofiev, Britten, Dutilleux, Bernstein and Penderecki. He and fellow Soviet composer Dmitri Kabalevsky completed Prokofiev's Cello Concertino after the composer's death. Rostropovich gave the first performances of both Shostakovich's cello concertos. Rostropovich introduced Shostakovich's First Concerto to London and began an association with Benjamin Britten. Britten wrote the Cello Sonata, 3 Solo Suites and the Cello Symphony with Rostropovich in mind.
From 1977 until 1994, he was musical director and conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington, DC. He is also the director and founder of many music festivals (Aldeburgh, Rostropovitch Festival), while still performing with some of the most famous musicians such as Sviatoslav Richter and Vladimir Horowitz.
His impromptu performance during the Fall of the Berlin Wall as events unfolded earned him international fame and was shown on television throughout the world.
His Russian citizenship was restored in 1990, although he and his family had already become American citizens.
Rostropovich received many international awards, including the French Legion of Honor, and honorary doctorates from the most prestigious international universities. He was an activist, fighting for freedom of expression in art and politics. An ambassador for the UNESCO, he supported many educational and cultural projects. Rostropovich and his wife, Galina Vishnevskaya, started a foundation to stimulate social projects and activities. Rostropovich Home Museum opened on March 4, 2002, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Rostropovich died in Moscow on April 27th, 2007.
Rostropovich's instrument was the 1711 Duport Stradivarius, considered to be one of the greatest instruments ever made.
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01Boccherini: Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major, G. 479 - 1. Allegro (Cadenza by Mstislav Rostropovich)6:43Mstislav Rostropovich, Orchestra of the Collegium Musicum, Paul Sacher
02Boccherini: Cello Concerto Nr. 2 In D Major G.479 - 2. Adagio5:09Mstislav Rostropovich and Orchestra of the Collegium Musicum and Paul Sacher
03Boccherini: Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major, G. 479 - 3. Allegro (Cadenza by Mstislav Rostropovich)4:48Mstislav Rostropovich, Orchestra of the Collegium Musicum, Paul Sacher
04Vivaldi: Cello Concerto in C major, RV 398 - 1. Allegro3:06Mstislav Rostropovich, Alexandre Stein, Martin Derungs, Orchestra of the Collegium Musicum, Paul Sacher
05Vivaldi: Cello Concerto in C major, RV 398 - 2. Largo2:50Mstislav Rostropovich, Alexandre Stein, Martin Derungs, Orchestra of the Collegium Musicum, Paul Sacher
06Vivaldi: Cello Concerto in C major, RV 398 - 3. Allegro2:10Mstislav Rostropovich, Alexandre Stein, Martin Derungs, Orchestra of the Collegium Musicum, Paul Sacher
07Tartini: Cello Concerto in A Major - 1. Allegro (Cadenza by Mstislav Rostropovich)4:39Mstislav Rostropovich, Orchestra of the Collegium Musicum, Paul Sacher
08Tartini: Cello Concerto in A major - 2. Larghetto4:39Mstislav Rostropovich, Orchestra of the Collegium Musicum, Paul Sacher
09Tartini: Cello Concerto in A Major - 3. Allegro assai (Cadenza by Mstislav Rostropovich)5:23Mstislav Rostropovich, Orchestra of the Collegium Musicum, Paul Sacher
10Vivaldi: Cello Concerto in G Major, RV 413 - 1. Allegro3:38Mstislav Rostropovich, Martin Derungs, Orchestra of the Collegium Musicum, Paul Sacher
11Vivaldi: Cello Concerto in G Major, RV 413 - 2. Largo4:18Mstislav Rostropovich, Martin Derungs, Orchestra of the Collegium Musicum, Paul Sacher
12Cello Concerto in G major, RV 413: III. Allegro2:57Mstislav Rostropovich, Martin Derungs, Orchestra of the Collegium Musicum, Paul Sacher
13Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129 - 1. Nicht zu schnell12:17Mstislav Rostropovich, Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
14Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129 - 2. Langsam5:03Mstislav Rostropovich, Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
15Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129 - 3. Sehr lebhaft8:18Mstislav Rostropovich, Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
16Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104, B. 191 - I. Allegro15:42Mstislav Rostropovich, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan
17Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104, B. 191 - II. Adagio ma non troppo12:41Mstislav Rostropovich, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan
18Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104, B. 191 - III. Finale (Allegro moderato)12:58Mstislav Rostropovich, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan
19Tchaikovsky: Variations On A Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH.57 - Moderato assai quasi andante0:54Mstislav Rostropovich, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan
20Tchaikovsky: Variations On A Rococo Theme, Op.33, TH.57 - Tema: Moderato semplice1:43Mstislav Rostropovich & Berliner Philharmoniker & Herbert von Karajan
21Tchaikovsky: Variations On A Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH.57 - Variazione I: Tempo del Tema0:52Mstislav Rostropovich, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan
22Tchaikovsky: Variations On A Rococo Theme, Op.33, TH.57 - Variazione II: Tempo del Tema1:13Mstislav Rostropovich & Herbert von Karajan & Berliner Philharmoniker
23Tchaikovsky: Variations On A Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH.57 - Variazione III: Andante sostenuto3:59Mstislav Rostropovich, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan
24Tchaikovsky: Variations On A Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH.57 - Variazione IV: Andante grazioso1:53Mstislav Rostropovich, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan
25Tchaikovsky: Variations On A Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH.57 - Variazione V: Allegro moderato3:28Mstislav Rostropovich, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan
26Tchaikovsky: Variations On A Rococo Theme, Op.33, TH.57 - Variazione VI: Andante2:52Mstislav Rostropovich & Berliner Philharmoniker & Herbert von Karajan
27Tchaikovsky: Variations On A Rococo Theme, Op. 33, TH.57 - Variazione VII e Coda: Allegro vivo1:59Mstislav Rostropovich, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan
28Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No.1 In D Major, Op.11, TH.111 - Orchestral Version - 2. Andante cantabile6:33Mstislav Rostropovich & Members of Berliner Philharmoniker
29Glazunov: Chant du Ménestrel, Op. 714:13Mstislav Rostropovich, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa
30Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No.2, Op.126 - 1. Largo13:55Mstislav Rostropovich, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa
31Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No.2, Op.126 - 2. Allegretto4:20Mstislav Rostropovich, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa
32Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No.2, Op.126 - 3. Allegretto14:54Mstislav Rostropovich & Boston Symphony Orchestra & Seiji Ozawa
33Shostakovich: Symphony No.5 in D minor, Op.47 - 1. Moderato15:29National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
34Shostakovich: Symphony No.5 in D minor, Op.47 - 2. Allegretto5:36National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
35Shostakovich: Symphony No.5 in D minor, Op.47 - 3. Largo12:49National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
36Shostakovich: Symphony No.5 in D minor, Op.47 - 4. Allegro non troppo11:49National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
37Messiaen: Concert à quatre (1990-1991) - 1. Entrée6:32Catherine Cantin, Heinz Holliger, Yvonne Loriod, Mstislav Rostropovich, Orchestre de l'Opéra Bastille, Myung-Whun Chung
38Messiaen: Concert à quatre (1990-1991) - 2. Vocalise4:22Catherine Cantin, Heinz Holliger, Yvonne Loriod, Mstislav Rostropovich, Orchestre de l'Opéra Bastille, Myung-Whun Chung
39Messiaen: Concert à quatre (1990-1991) - 3. Cadenza4:54Catherine Cantin, Heinz Holliger, Yvonne Loriod, Mstislav Rostropovich, Orchestre de l'Opéra Bastille, Myung-Whun Chung
40Messiaen: Concert à quatre (1990-1991) - 4. Rondeau10:17Catherine Cantin, Heinz Holliger, Yvonne Loriod, Mstislav Rostropovich, Orchestre de l'Opéra Bastille, Myung-Whun Chung
41Bernstein: Three Meditations From "Mass" - 1. Lento assai, molto sostenuto4:34Mstislav Rostropovich, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein
42Bernstein: Three Meditations From "Mass" - 2. Andante sostenuto - Var. I-IV - Coda4:08Mstislav Rostropovich, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein
43Bernstein: Three Meditations From "Mass" - 3. Presto - Fast And Primitive - Molto adagio8:14Mstislav Rostropovich, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein
44Brahms: Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor, op. 38 - I. Allegro non troppo15:04Mstislav Rostropovich, Rudolf Serkin
45Brahms: Sonata for Cello and Piano No.1 in E minor, Op.38 - 2. Allegretto quasi minuetto5:32Mstislav Rostropovich, Rudolf Serkin
46Brahms: Cello Sonata No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 38 - III. Allegro - Più presto6:33Mstislav Rostropovich, Rudolf Serkin
47Brahms: Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 99 - I. Allegro vivace9:25Mstislav Rostropovich, Rudolf Serkin
48Brahms: Sonata for Cello and Piano No.2 in F, Op.99 - 2. Adagio affettuoso8:22Mstislav Rostropovich, Rudolf Serkin
49Brahms: Sonata for Cello and Piano No.2 in F, Op.99 - 3. Allegro passionato7:57Mstislav Rostropovich, Rudolf Serkin
50Brahms: Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 99 - IV. Allegro molto4:26Mstislav Rostropovich, Rudolf Serkin
51Chopin: Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 65 - I. Allegro moderato15:15Martha Argerich, Mstislav Rostropovich
52Chopin: Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 65 - II. Scherzo. Allegro con brio4:50Martha Argerich, Mstislav Rostropovich
54Chopin: Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 65 - IV. Finale. Allegro5:27Martha Argerich, Mstislav Rostropovich
55Chopin: Introduction And Polonaise, Op. 3 - Introduction. Lento - Alla Polacca. Allegro8:09Martha Argerich, Mstislav Rostropovich
56Schumann: Adagio And Allegro In A Flat, Op. 70 - Arr. Friedrich Grützmacher - Langsam, mit innigem Ausdruck - Rasch und feurig - Etwas ruhiger - Im ersten Tempo - Schneller8:14Martha Argerich, Mstislav Rostropovich
57Schubert: String Quintet In C, D. 956 - 1. Allegro ma non troppo0:01Mstislav Rostropovich, Emerson String Quartet
58Schubert: String Quintet In C, D. 956 - 2. Adagio14:50Mstislav Rostropovich & Emerson String Quartet
59Schubert: String Quintet In C, D. 956 - 3. Scherzo (Presto) - Trio (Andante sostenuto)10:02Mstislav Rostropovich, Emerson String Quartet
60Schubert: String Quintet In C, D. 956 - 4. Allegretto9:22Mstislav Rostropovich, Emerson String Quartet
61Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (Suite), Op.20a, TH 219 - 1. Scene - Swan Theme3:10Berliner Philharmoniker and Mstislav Rostropovich
62Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (Suite), Op. 20a, TH. 219 - II. Valse In A6:42Leon Spierer, Eberhard Finke, Berliner Philharmoniker, Mstislav Rostropovich
63Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (Suite), Op. 20a, TH. 219 - III. Danse des petits cygnes1:24Berliner Philharmoniker, Mstislav Rostropovich
64Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (Suite), Op. 20a, TH. 219 - IV. Scene6:20Leon Spierer, Eberhard Finke, Berliner Philharmoniker, Mstislav Rostropovich
65Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (Suite), Op. 20a, TH. 219 - V. Danse Hongroise (Czardas)3:13Berliner Philharmoniker, Mstislav Rostropovich
66Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (Suite), Op. 20a, TH. 219 - VI. Scène finale4:18Leon Spierer, Eberhard Finke, Berliner Philharmoniker, Mstislav Rostropovich
67Tchaikovsky: The Sleeping Beauty (Suite), Op. 66a, TH. 234 - I. Introduction - The Lilac Fairy4:29Berliner Philharmoniker, Mstislav Rostropovich
68Tchaikovsky: The Sleeping Beauty, Suite, Op.66a, TH 234 - 2. Pas d'action: Rose Adagio5:37Berliner Philharmoniker and Mstislav Rostropovich
69The Sleeping Beauty, Ballet Suite, Op. 66a: III. Pas de caractère: Puss in Boots1:36Berliner Philharmoniker and Mstislav Rostropovich
70Tchaikovsky: The Sleeping Beauty (Suite), Op. 66a, TH. 234 - IV. Panorama. Andantino3:36Berliner Philharmoniker, Mstislav Rostropovich
71Tchaikovsky: The Sleeping Beauty, Suite, Op.66a, TH 234 - Valse4:21Berliner Philharmoniker and Mstislav Rostropovich
72Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a, TH.35 - 1. Miniature Overture3:00Berliner Philharmoniker, Mstislav Rostropovich
73Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Suite), Op. 71a, TH. 35 - IIa. MarchBerliner Philharmoniker & Mstislav Rostropovich
74Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a, TH.35 - Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy2:03Berliner Philharmoniker and Mstislav Rostropovich
75Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Suite), Op. 71a, TH. 35 - IIc. Russian Dance (Trepak)1:05Berliner Philharmoniker, Mstislav Rostropovich
76Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Suite), Op. 71a, TH. 35 - IId. Arabian Dance (Coffee)3:41Berliner Philharmoniker, Mstislav Rostropovich
77Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Suite), Op. 71a, TH. 35 - IIe. Chinese Dance (Tea)1:10Berliner Philharmoniker, Mstislav Rostropovich
78Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Suite), Op. 71a, TH. 35 - IIf. Dance Of The Reed-Pipes (Mirlitons)2:28Berliner Philharmoniker, Mstislav Rostropovich
79Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Suite), Op. 71a, TH. 35 - III. Waltz Of The FlowersBerliner Philharmoniker & Mstislav Rostropovich
81Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Ballet Suite, Op. 64a, No. 1 - I. Folk Dance4:31National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
82Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Ballet Suite, Op. 64a, No. 1 - II. Scene1:41National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
83Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Ballet Suite, Op. 64a, No. 1 - III. Madrigal3:18National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
84Prokofiev: Romeo And Juliet, Ballet Suite, Op.64a, No.1 - 4. Minuet3:23National Symphony Orchestra Washington & Mstislav Rostropovich
85Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Ballet Suite, Op. 64a, No. 1 - V. Masks2:09National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
86Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Ballet Suite, Op. 64a, No. 1 - VI. Romeo and Juliet7:41National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
87Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Ballet Suite, Op. 64a, No. 1 - VII. Death of Tybalt4:55National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
88Prokofiev: Romeo And Juliet, Ballet Suite, Op.64a, No.2 - 1. The Montagues And The Capulets5:52National Symphony Orchestra Washington & Mstislav Rostropovich
89Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Ballet Suite, Op. 64a, No. 2 - II. Juliet - The Little Girl3:52National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
90Prokofiev: Romeo And Juliet, Ballet Suite, Op.64a, No.2 - 3. Friar Laurence2:33National Symphony Orchestra Washington & Mstislav Rostropovich
91Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Ballet Suite, Op. 64a, No. 2 - IV. Dance2:09National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
92Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Ballet Suite, Op. 64a, No. 2 - V. Romeo and Juliet Before Parting7:38National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Mstislav Rostropovich
93Prokofiev: Romeo And Juliet, Ballet Suite, Op.64a, No.2 - 6. Dance Of The Maids From The Antilles2:16National Symphony Orchestra Washington & Mstislav Rostropovich
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Selected Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon
Mstislav Rostropovich Orchestra of the Collegium Musicum Paul Sacher Lyrics
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