Mstislaw Rostropowitsch
Posted by: Basil on 27 April 2007
It was just announced on R3 that Mstislaw Rostropowitsch has died.
A sad loss indeed.
A sad loss indeed.
Posted on: 27 April 2007 by jon h
huge loss
i remember studying with him -- a genius.
i remember studying with him -- a genius.
Posted on: 27 April 2007 by Michael_B.
Only just read this.
Very sad news. One of the all-time greats.
Very sad news. One of the all-time greats.
Posted on: 27 April 2007 by Chris Kelly
A true colossus. And politically very courageous too. At least he leaves a wonderful recorded legacy of his artistry.
Posted on: 27 April 2007 by Tam
Sad news.
A very fine cellist indeed (and conductor to boot). His Bach cello suites remain a revelation for me (though, in fairness, not everyone). I'm also very fond of his LSO Live recording of Shostakovich's 11th symphony.
Only the other day I was considering the Warner issue of his box of Shostakovich symphonies and DG's box to celebrate his recent birthday.
I was pleasantly surprised at the prominence the BBC gave this - it was in the last news bulletin on R4 and when I went onto the BBC News site this morning it was the 3rd story (not bad for a classical musician, and a nice change).
regards, Tam
A very fine cellist indeed (and conductor to boot). His Bach cello suites remain a revelation for me (though, in fairness, not everyone). I'm also very fond of his LSO Live recording of Shostakovich's 11th symphony.
Only the other day I was considering the Warner issue of his box of Shostakovich symphonies and DG's box to celebrate his recent birthday.
I was pleasantly surprised at the prominence the BBC gave this - it was in the last news bulletin on R4 and when I went onto the BBC News site this morning it was the 3rd story (not bad for a classical musician, and a nice change).
regards, Tam
Posted on: 27 April 2007 by Oldnslow
I feel fortunate to has seen Slava conduct the Shostakovich 5th and Prokofieff 5th in a Seattle concert last year-one of the highlights of my symphonic experience for sure. Farewell to a giant.
Posted on: 27 April 2007 by Oldnslow
...Have seen...sorry for the typo
Posted on: 27 April 2007 by acad tsunami
A truly great musician and a wonderful human being - he will be sadly missed.
Posted on: 28 April 2007 by u5227470736789439
An example of how a great musician can use his fame to balk an evil system of governement, but most of all, even then, he was the most fantastic musician.
I remember him being interviewed [broadcasst in the interval I think] when he was peforming Haydn's C Major Cello Concereto at a BBC RAH Prom with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, and he said he asked the Orchestra to play 101%! Larger than life he was in that concert and the orchestra completely were mesmersised into following him. I shall never forget that broadcast. I have it taped somewhere. Haydn IS larger than life!
I also remember seeing a TV broadcast of the Dvorak Concerto in 1974, just as he was forced into excile for the USSR. I did not understand the politics as a twelve year old, but I have never come across a more moving reading of this work since, not even his own earlier recordings with Boult, and Talich. [Both out on Testamant and Suprafon respectively].
He will be missed very much I am sure. Fredrik
I remember him being interviewed [broadcasst in the interval I think] when he was peforming Haydn's C Major Cello Concereto at a BBC RAH Prom with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, and he said he asked the Orchestra to play 101%! Larger than life he was in that concert and the orchestra completely were mesmersised into following him. I shall never forget that broadcast. I have it taped somewhere. Haydn IS larger than life!
I also remember seeing a TV broadcast of the Dvorak Concerto in 1974, just as he was forced into excile for the USSR. I did not understand the politics as a twelve year old, but I have never come across a more moving reading of this work since, not even his own earlier recordings with Boult, and Talich. [Both out on Testamant and Suprafon respectively].
He will be missed very much I am sure. Fredrik
Posted on: 29 April 2007 by Tam
Yesterday I picked up his box of Shostakovich symphonies. I've only listened to the first disc (1&9) but enjoyed them immensely. Indeed, I recently picked up the Kondrashin survey (which has been getting rave reviews lately) and in some ways I prefer this - it's a little more laid back.
At some point in the next few days I'll dig out my dvd from the 1964 Edinburgh festival where he played a concert (which started at midnight, I believe due to difficulties he or Richter experienced getting there) of the complete Beethoven cello sonatas with Richter. It's a marvel. The black and white photography isn't perfect (and sometimes it blurs as the speed isn't enough for the finger work). But the camera work is a model of simplicity (sadly absent from today's music broadcasts) and the result it utterly captivating.
As Fredrik says, he was not just a great musician, but a very brave person as well. Indeed, I wasn't really aware of this side of his life until reading his obituaries.
regards, Tam
At some point in the next few days I'll dig out my dvd from the 1964 Edinburgh festival where he played a concert (which started at midnight, I believe due to difficulties he or Richter experienced getting there) of the complete Beethoven cello sonatas with Richter. It's a marvel. The black and white photography isn't perfect (and sometimes it blurs as the speed isn't enough for the finger work). But the camera work is a model of simplicity (sadly absent from today's music broadcasts) and the result it utterly captivating.
As Fredrik says, he was not just a great musician, but a very brave person as well. Indeed, I wasn't really aware of this side of his life until reading his obituaries.
regards, Tam