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"Music: Breath of the statues. Perhaps: Silence of images. Your language where languages end" - Rainer Maria Rilke

Mstislav Rostropovich

Mstislav Rostropovich was a phenomenal cellist, as well as a pianist, conductor and political activist. He received his first lessons from his father Leopold Rostropovich. He continued his cello studies at the Moscow Conservatory with Kozolupov and studied composition with Shostakovich. From the fifties onwards, his star rose and his performances deeply impressed critics and audiences alike. Several Russian composers have written works for him, including Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Khachaturian. Leading West-European composers were also inspired by his performances and provided the cello repertoire with important new works, like the three Cello Suites by Britten and the Cello Concertos of Dutilleux, Lutoslawski and Schnittke. Rostropovich' performances are characterized by an exceptionally clear intonation with a rich and sonorous sound in all registers. From the sixties onwards, he also developed himself as a talented conductor. Besides his exceptional musicality, he is famous for his political commitment. In the seventies, Rostropovich advocated the increase of cultural freedom in the Soviet Union, which cost him his citizenship in 1978. He made a deep impression with a spontaneous solo recital at the Berlin Wall with Bach Suites during the 'Wende' of 1989.
(Source: Muziekweb.nl)