RIP: Mstislav Rostropovich, master cellist 1927-2007

[chera]

Mstislav Rostropovich, the cellist and conductor who was renowned not only as one of the great instrumentalists of the 20th century but also as an outspoken champion of artistic freedom in Russia during the final decades of the Cold War, died yesterday in Moscow. He was 80 and lived in Paris, with homes in Moscow, St. Petersburg, London and Lausanne, Switzerland.

I had the pleasure of hearing Rostropovich play Dvorak's Cello Concerto at Symphony Hall in 2002, with Seiji Ozawa during his final season with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.  It was a magical performance.  Although I prefer Pablo Casal's Bach Sonatas for Solo Cello, I must admit that Rostropovich's was an astoundingly perfect performance.  RIP, Slava.


Rostropovich playing at the Berlin Wall, 1989

[trueinnuendo]

I only know Yo-yo Ma, but this guy must really be great as he stood up for artistic freedom during sensitive times.