The name of Mstislav Rostropovich is forever inscribed in the history of 20th century music. He was distinguished not only by the highest performing talent, but also by his adherence to principles: Rostropovich opposed the totalitarian regime, for which he was expelled from the Soviet Union. The musician returned to his homeland after the collapse of socialism.
From the biography of Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich was born on March 27, 1927 in Baku. His ancestors were musicians. This determined the fate of the gifted child. In the mid-1930s, Rostropovich studied at the Gnessin School in the capital of the USSR. It was one of the country's elite musical education institutions.
When the war began, Mstislav was evacuated. His fate was connected with Orenburg. When his father died, the young man had to become the head of the family. Already at the age of fifteen, he teaches at a music school and earns a living.
In the same years, Rostropovich began to create his own works: a poem for cello, a prelude for a piano, a piano concerto. During the war years, the young musician travels a lot around the country. Performing with the Maly Theater Orchestra, Rostropovich performed Tchaikovsky. He had a chance to give concerts in collective farms, hospitals, military units.
At the age of 16, Mstislav became a student at the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied cello and acquired the skills of a composer. Here Rostropovich meets Shostakovich. The maestro appreciated the performing skills of the young musician and offered him individual lessons. However, Rostropovich did not start composing music.
After graduating from the conservatory and graduate school, Rostropovich was engaged in teaching. For a quarter of a century he worked at the Moscow Conservatory and for several years in the city on the Neva. For thirty years, the musician has raised many professional musicians. Many of his students later became professors at prestigious educational institutions around the world.
Career as a virtuoso musician
Rostropovich's repertoire was diverse. He was a virtuoso cellist, as well as an opera and symphony conductor. Dozens of the best world-class composers have written works for this musician. On account of Rostropovich - dozens of performed compositions for cello.
Mstislav Leopoldovich began his conductor practice back in 1957. Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" was a great success under his leadership. As a cellist, Rostropovich made many tours across the USSR.
Galina Vishnevskaya, a famous opera singer, became the wife of the musician and conductor. He often performed with his wife.
In 1951, Rostropovich was awarded the Stalin Prize, and in 1965 he received the Lenin Prize. However, later he became objectionable to the authorities. One of the reasons was his help to Solzhenitsyn, whom Rostropovich sheltered at his dacha. The musician drew up an open letter in defense of the disgraced writer and sent it to the Pravda newspaper. After that, Rostropovich started having problems.
The press began to ignore the musician. He was forbidden to give concerts and go on tour. He turned into a sworn enemy of the Soviet regime. In 1974, Rostropovich and Vishnevskaya were expelled from the USSR. Four years later, they were stripped of their Soviet citizenship. Together with their parents, Rostropovich's daughters, Olga and Elena, left their homeland.
Rostropovich after leaving the USSR
After that, Rostropovich mainly lived in the United States. For many years he directed the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington. Rostropovich also traveled a lot around the world, performing with orchestras of Great Britain, France, Austria, Germany, Japan.
In 1991, Rostropovich returned to Moscow to join those who defended the White House during the so-called putsch. Subsequently, the cellist toured extensively. His instrument sounded in the best concert halls in the world.
Critics never tired of praising the maestro, noting the emotionality, inspiration and depth of performance.
In 2006, Rostropovich's health deteriorated. He underwent surgery in Geneva. After that, he spent a long time in the hospital walls. But after another crisis, the maestro got even worse. The great musician passed away on April 27, 2007.
