Mstislav Rostropovich was loved and revered as a human being whose warmth, courage, and integrity turned him into a cultural icon.
Performer Biography
Beyond the cello, Mstislav Rostropovich was also an excellent pianist, a distinguished conductor who led the Washington-based National Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 1994, and an academically trained composer.
Interpretation
Mstislav Rostropovich's cello playing was characterized by overwhelming intensity and a full, warm tone, rich in colors and modulatory nuances across all registers.
Performer Biography
Mstislav Rostropovich, the cellist on this album, was considered the finest cellist in the world for many years and inspired about half of the standard modern cello repertoire.
Interpretation
Mstislav Rostropovich approached music like a composer, imbuing each note with meaning while maintaining an understanding of the overall structure and building to climaxes.
Performer Biography
Mstislav Rostropovich was a humanist who championed artistic freedom in the early 1970s, losing his privileges as an exemplary Soviet artist, and later advocated for civil rights and charitable projects.
Instruments
Mstislav Rostropovich used an unusually heavy bow and an exceptionally flat, almost horizontal instrument position, requiring a bent endpin developed by French cellist Paul Tortelier.
