Name: Mstislav

Surname: Rostropovich



Mstislav Leopoldovič Rostropovič, in Russian Мстисла́в Леопо́льдович Ростропо́вич, sometimes transliterated as Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich (Baku, 27 March 1927 – Moscow, 27 April 2007), was a Russian-born American cellist and conductor. He was born in Azerbaijan (then part of the Soviet Union) but moved to the United States, in disagreement with the Soviet regime. Affectionately called Slava (which means Glory in Russian), he was considered the greatest cellist of his time; he perfected himself at the school of Pablo Casals and was accepted by all as his worthy successor. From 1943 to 1948 he studied at the Moscow Conservatory, where he became professor of cello in 1956. The instrument he played was the 1711 Duport Stradivarius, considered one of the best instruments in the world.


Autograph type: autograph dedication on programme