Mstislav Rostropovich

The name of Mstislav Rostropovich takes exceptional place in music art and public life of the 20th century, being the focus of attention of both the prominent figures of culture and politicians. The best orchestras of the world have an honor to perform concerts with Mstislav Rostropovich. The political appearances of M. Rostropovich at the Berlin Wall and the White House in Moscow became the symbol of fight against all forms of totalitarianism. M. Rostropovich enriched the world of culture with his creative pieces of music. M. Rostropovich proved that only rare talents are able to change the world by the power of art because of their salient talent, untiring labor, hot love for music. This world famous musician, great cellist, outstanding conductor, citizen of the world, were born on 27 March, 1927 in Baku. The ancestors of Rostropovich were descendants from Poland and Lithuania and used to be named Rostropovichyus.

The founder of the kin was Jan Rostropovichyus (1690). In their kin there were also the representatives of Russian, Polish, Lithuanian and Czech people. The love for music, inherent to the entire family, was fully reflected in the person of Mstislav Rostropovich. The musical aura, which dominated in the family, played a special role in formation and profession selection of young Mstislav. Mstislav was able to listen to his father’s piano performances for hours, he mastered the gamesmanship to fortepiano from the early age. At the age of 4 he composed his first piano piece of music, “Polka”. In fall of 1931, the family of Rostropovich moves from Baku to Moscow. From 1934 to 1937 M. Rostropovich studies at the Gnesin Musical School, and then during 1937 — 1941 continues his education at the musical school in Sverdlovsk. Then, on the insistence of his father, he continues to improve his knowledge in the class of the musical composition of E. Messner at the musical school of the Moscow Conservatory. In 1940, young Mstislav at the age of 13, for the first time in life, performs on the large stage in Slavanka, having performed the C. Sensan cello concerto. In 1942, after the death of his father, he begins to teach at the musical technical school of Orenburg. At the same time, the young musician frequently performs for the wounded soldiers in military hospitals. In 1943 he went on to the Moscow Conservatoire into the class of S. M. Kozolupov and at the same time studied orchestration lessons under the administration of D. Shostakovich. There are a number of the valuable photo-exhibits, dedicated to the outstanding musicians in the home-museum: D. Shostakovich, S. Prokofyev, S. Kozolupov, E. Mravinskom, and others.

In 1946 M. Rostropovich graduated from the Moscow Conservatory. His name is knocked out on the golden board of this educational institution. He continued his graduate education, and began to work at the Moscow Philharmonic Society as the soloist. He gives tour performances in Leningrad, Kiev, Tallinn, Minsk, Vilnius and other cities of the country. In 1947 M. Rostropovich was bestowed an award at the International Festival of Youth and Students in Prague. The press called him the “sensation of the competitions”. Same year he begins working on S. Prokofyev’s first cello concerto. This piece of music, which was first performed in 1948, had a great success and contributed to the beginning of the close creative relationship between the cellist and Prokofyev. In 1949 at the International Festival of Youth and Students in Budapest, M. Rostropovich was bestowed an award in Poland, Hungary and other countries. In 1950 M. Rostropovich participates at the International Competition of Hanus Vigan in Prague and was bestowed an award. After that, he begins to earn popularity; they invite him on the tour to many countries. The musician strives for constantly enriching his repertoire with classical pieces of music and organizes 2 concerts, comprised of the suites of Bach. For his concert activity, M. Rostropovich rewarded by the State Stalin Prize of II degree in 1951.

In 1955 Rostropovich married Galina Vishnevskaya, the leading soprano at the Bolshoi Opera in Moscow. Although her operatic talent was widely known on stage, it was her partnership with Rostropovich in recitals which introduced her to international audiences, both in concert and on record, as a leading interpreter of Russian songs. Rostropovich’s pianistic ability came to the fore and he worked with his wife on a wide range of songs.

Since the end of 1950 the friendly and creative relations between M. Rostropovich and D. Shostakovich had been noticeably strengthening. The outstanding composer writes a cello concerto for orchestra, which is dedicated to M. Rostropovich. In 1959 in Leningrad (Saint — Petersburg) this concerto was performed for the first time by M. Rostropovich with Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra under the administration of E. Mravinsky. In Moscow, the concerto was performed the same year, on October 9, under the administration of the conductor A. Khaykin. On February 22, 1961, the premiere of “Satire” vocal cycle takes place, which was created by the musician in the honor of G. Vishnevskaya. In 1962 Rostropovich is elected the honorable member of the English Royal Academy. Only  I. Stravinskiy, P. Kazal, A. Rubinstein and D. Oystrakht were honored by this title before. M. Rostropovich became famous also thanks to his conductor activity. In 1962 M. Rostropovich along with G. Vishnevskaya actively participate in the organization of the Festival of Contemporary Music in the city of Gorkiy. Exactly here, in the second part of the concerto, the musician performed as a conductor. It was the 4th act of Shostakovich’s “Caterina Izmailova” opera. The success of the conducting stimulates M. Rostropovich more deeply to continue this activity. Without possessing a special education in this region, M. Rostropovich takes special lessons of conducting art from L. Ginzburg and K. Kondrashin.

In 1966 M. Rostropovich was bestowed the title of the USSR People’s Artist. It goes without saying that the 60’s of the 20-th century were the period of the bloom of creative activity of the musician. He performs with many solo programs, runs active teaching activity, bringing up the whole pleiad of young performers, and also frequently conducts in symphonic and operatic performances. The new trio is created in these years: E. Gilels (piano), A. Kogan (violin), M. Rostropovich (cello). At the same time a creative union of the musician with S. Rikhter is formed. Their concert program consisted of the classical pieces of music of European composers..

M. Rostropovich showed himself as an outstanding personality also as a teacher. As a rule, his lessons were opened and always gathered a large audience. For the purpose of the more intensified study of cello art, creates a club of performance. Ensembles of cellists appear in many cities, music competitions are conducted. In 70’s of the past century M. Rostropovich actively involved in the fight for the rights of man in the USSR. The support, rendered to the outstanding writer and citizen A. Solzhenitsin, led to the fact that in 1974 M. Rostropovich was banished from the country, and subsequently was stripped of Soviet citizenship. M. Rostropovich left the Soviet Union together with his family. Abroad they experienced great difficulties at first; however, as a result of the active creative activity, they found merited success and reputation. Being the head of the Washington Symphonic Orchestra for 17 years, M. Rostropovich attains the world glory. M. Rostropovich has been rewarded with more than 100 orders and medals, numerous certificates and diplomas of many countries.

After the achievement of success, M. Rotsropovich activates its concert activity even more. He has a friendly and business relationship with the number of eminent persons of politics, culture and science. A number of musical festivals under the administration of M. Rostropovich have been arranged. In 1987 in Washington the Fisrt World Congress of Cellists is being held. He is awarded with the “Musician of the Year” title. At the Center of J. F. Kennedy the three pieces of music are performed in the honor of M. Rostropovich: L. Bernstein’s “Glory” overture, C. Halfter’s “Glory For Glory” overture, K. Penderetsky’s “Angelic Song” overture. On the insistence and repeated appeals of the prominent figures of culture and art such as R. Shchedrin, Yu. Bashmet, O. Kogan, I. Oystrakh and A. Sakharov, Mstislav Rostropovich was restored Soviet citizenship (1992) and again elected the member of the Union of Composers. M. Rostropovich can be really named a “Citizen of the World”. This gifted and energetic person hotly and sincerely reacts to all events happening in the countries of the East Europe and Russia in particular. In 1989, during the fall of the Berlin Wall, M. Rostropovich performs a concerto of the music of Bach. He made and has been making a priceless contribution to the development of music art and culture of Russia.

In 1992 Rostropovich performs with the USA National Symphonic Orchestra at the J. F. Kennedy Center. Here, three symphonies of V. Artemov were performed for the first time. During this period abroad, thanks tothe dynamism of M. Rostropovich, a number of music festivals and competitions for the purpose of the popularization of contemporary Russian music is organized. So, in 1993 in the city of Eviane (France) Music Festival of pieces music of Russian composers is being held. M. Rostropovich takes active part in celebration of the Dmitriy Shostakovich’s 87-th anniversary. In connection with this, on the Red Square in Moscow he performs a concert with the Washington Symphonic Orchestra. Four symphonies and one piano concerto of the great composer were performed here. The piano solo was performed by Ignat Solzhenitsyn. The fee, which were received by M. Rostropovich in 1994 from concerts in Moscow and Saint — Petersburg, was gratis endowed to charity. On August 17, 1996, M. Rostropovich and G. Vishnevskaya established a “Vishnevskaya — Rostropovich” charitable foundation in Russia. The basic purpose of the fund is rendering medical aid to children for the purpose of strengthening their immune system. The representation of the fund has been currently operating in Azerbaijan. The world famous musician and public figure M. Rostropovich continues his active creative and charitable activities even today.

Baku period.

I period: In 1925 — 1931 the family of Rostropovich lived in Baku. On March 27, 1927, M. Rostropovich was born. He obtained his first knowledge of music from his father, L. Rostropovich. His first music composition, “Polka” for piano, little Slava wrote at the age of 4.

II period: 1960 — 1970 were significant years in the biography of M. Rostropovich. During this period his tours in Azerbaijan were especially intensive. In 1971 — 1973 he perfroms in Baku with accompaniment of the Uz. Gadzhibekov State Symphonic Orchestra under the administration of Niyazi. This period found its total reflection in the materials of the exposition: rare photographs, concert programs, posters and other exhibits.

III period: begins from the end of the 90’s. After the long-standing absence, caused by the immigration from the USSR, M. Rostropovich returns to Baku. In 1997 his 70th anniversary was celebrated in the motherland. The street, on which lived his family, and also one of the musical schools were named after Leopold and Mstislav Rostropovich. The home-museum of the father and the son was also founded. Beginning from this time, his visits to Baku (excepting 2001 and 2003) have a regular nature. During his stays, M. Rostropovich gives master — classes and performs concerts. On January 26, 2004, after the long interruption, an official opening of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society took place. On the opening ceremony M. Rostropovich performed Bach’s “Sarabande” from Suite № 2 on cello. The musician dedicated this piece of music to the bright memory of his close friend, the late President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. Then within the framework of the same concert under the administration of M. Rostropovich for the first time was performed a piece of music called “Dedication”, written by composer F. Alizadeh specially in honor of the Philharmonic Society opening. The following visit of maestro in Baku came about during the National Music Day celebration on September 18, 2004. In the program of the concert, which was conducted by the maestro, the overture to the Azerbaijan composer Uz. Gadzhibekov’s “Kerogly” opera was performed, as well as the works of M. Glinka, A. Dvorak, P. Chaykovsky, K. Karayev and F. Amirov. The following visit of Rostropovich in Baku took place in the beginning of March, 2005. This time maestro again gives concert at the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society. On the concert were performed the following music: “Glory”, which is dedicated by L. Bernstein to M. Rostropovich; the IV symphony of P. Chaykovsky for violin with orchestra in performance of the Russian violinist S. Krylov. The concert was conducted by the maestro M. Rostropovich. In the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, on the street where the family of Rostropovich lived, in the house where the world’s famous musician was born, now is the museum of Leopold and Mstislav Rostropovich. In the collection of the museum many valuable and rare exhibits are represented. During each of his visits, maestro visits the native house surely in order to feel the heat of these walls and mentally turn over the pages of his life. “Wherever I am, I will always return to Baku, indeed this is my native land” (M. Rostropovich).