Mstislav Rostropovich
Who was Mstislav Rostropovich?
Cellist and conductor considered one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century who championed contemporary composers like Prokofiev and Shostakovich. He later became music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Mstislav Rostropovich (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich was born on March 27, 1927, in Baku, Azerbaijan, which was part of the Soviet Union at the time. His father, Leopold, was both a cellist and pianist, while his mother, Sofiya, played the piano, so music was a big part of his early life. The family moved to Moscow in 1931, and that's where Rostropovich began his formal musical education. He entered the Moscow Conservatory at 16, where he studied cello with Semyon Kozolupov and composition with Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev. These connections deeply influenced his growth as an artist.
Rostropovich became a virtuoso cellist in the 1940s and 1950s, winning the Stalin Prize in 1951 and becoming the Soviet Union's top cellist. His technical skill and emotional expressiveness drew the attention of leading composers, who wrote works for him. Prokofiev composed his Symphony-Concerto for cello and orchestra for Rostropovich, and Shostakovich dedicated both of his cello concertos to him. Other well-known composers like Benjamin Britten, Witold Lutosławski, and Krzysztof Penderecki also wrote pieces for him, greatly adding to the cello's repertoire.
In addition to performing, Rostropovich taught at the Moscow Conservatory from 1956 to 1974, helping to shape the next generation of cellists. He started his conducting career in the 1960s, initially working alongside his wife, soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, in opera performances. His political issues with Soviet authorities started in 1970 when he publicly supported dissident writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn, which led to limitations on his performances and travel.
In 1974, Rostropovich and his family left the Soviet Union. He became the music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., in 1977 and held the position until 1994. During this time, he turned the orchestra into a respected international group while continuing his solo career. His years in America included many recordings, tours, and advocacy for human rights. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Rostropovich famously played Bach suites at the wall, showing his belief in music's ability to bring people together.
In his later years, Rostropovich traveled the world as a musical ambassador, performing with major orchestras and in famous venues everywhere. He started the Rostropovich Foundation to support young musicians and continued to stand up for artistic freedom until he passed away in Moscow on April 27, 2007. His impact went beyond just playing the cello, influencing conducting, education, and contemporary classical music.
Before Fame
Growing up in a musical family during the early years of the Soviet Union, Rostropovich learned music from his parents. His father, Leopold, a professional cellist, noticed his son's exceptional talent early on and provided rigorous training. The family moved to Moscow in 1931, just as Stalin's policies were promoting classical music as a symbol of national pride, which opened doors for gifted young musicians.
Rostropovich entered the Moscow Conservatory during World War II, a time when Soviet cultural institutions were struggling. Despite the difficulties of the wartime period, he studied with renowned teachers and began building connections with major composers who would be his lifelong collaborators. His early exposure to both traditional Russian music and contemporary Soviet works uniquely positioned him to blend classical tradition with modern musical advancements.
Key Achievements
- Premiered over 100 works written specifically for him by major 20th-century composers
- Served as Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C. from 1977-1994
- Won four Grammy Awards and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1987
- Performed with virtually every major orchestra and conductor of his era across six decades
- Established the Rostropovich Foundation supporting young musicians worldwide
Did You Know?
- 01.He played his cello at the Berlin Wall in 1989 for two hours straight after its fall, performing Bach suites as a celebration of freedom
- 02.Rostropovich performed on a 1711 Stradivarius cello nicknamed 'Duport' after Pierre Duport, which Napoleon reportedly damaged with his spurs
- 03.He conducted the world premiere of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf in English, personally translating the narration
- 04.Shostakovich wrote his Cello Concerto No. 1 in four days specifically for Rostropovich's technical abilities
- 05.He was stripped of Soviet citizenship in 1978 but had it restored by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990