Rostropovich is dead.

April 27, 2007 4:21 AM

Mstislav Rostropovich (1927-2007). Master cellist and renowned conductor, Rostropovich was one of the great artistic dissidents of the Soviet Union. He started his career as a star of the Moscow Conservatory and lived long enough to play his cello in the rubble of the Berlin Wall. More from the Associated Press and Wikipedia.
posted by ardgedee (38 comments total)

oh
posted by From Bklyn at 4:24 AM on April 27, 2007

From BWV 1009 for solo cello.
From the Shostakovich Op 107 Cello Concerto.
posted by Wolfdog at 4:26 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by eritain at 4:38 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by paddbear at 4:59 AM on April 27, 2007

As a cellist who was in some measure inspired to play seriously because of Maestro Rostropovich . . .

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My dot is the D-minor Bach cello suite (no. 2) prelude.
posted by spitbull at 5:04 AM on April 27, 2007

9834;
posted by Zonker at 5:08 AM on April 27, 2007

Aw heck.


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posted by Zonker at 5:08 AM on April 27, 2007

Actually got to hear him live a few years ago--a real treat in my backwater city. But he came back here a few times over the years, because he always liked the reception he got.
posted by adoarns at 5:11 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by chuckdarwin at 5:23 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by cookie-k at 5:32 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by casarkos at 5:33 AM on April 27, 2007

He could saw that thing.

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posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:29 AM on April 27, 2007

Aww. terrible news... I listened to his music all the time.

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posted by StrikeTheViol at 6:31 AM on April 27, 2007

Aw.
posted by ~ at 6:55 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by acro at 7:19 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by aught at 7:34 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by Martin E. at 7:41 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by louigi at 7:55 AM on April 27, 2007

NPR (4:30)
posted by acro at 7:56 AM on April 27, 2007

(NPR)
posted by acro at 8:01 AM on April 27, 2007

Heard a tape of him talking on NPR earlier. He creates fire in his heart before he starts something. Would it be that we could all do so. Thanks for inspiring legions.
posted by Burhanistan at 8:21 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by nonreflectiveobject at 8:28 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by straight at 8:31 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by Mister Bijou at 8:38 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by sien at 8:43 AM on April 27, 2007

♪
posted by languagehat at 9:10 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by hortense at 9:13 AM on April 27, 2007

Rastropovitch celebrating a longed-for event
posted by lodurr at 9:52 AM on April 27, 2007

many videos
posted by acro at 10:13 AM on April 27, 2007

Makes my heart happy for him that he "lived long enough to play his cello in the rubble of the Berlin Wall."

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posted by nickyskye at 10:17 AM on April 27, 2007

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posted by joseph_elmhurst at 10:35 AM on April 27, 2007

I've always loved this sketch of Rostropovich by Dalí.
posted by joseph_elmhurst at 10:37 AM on April 27, 2007

It was precisely because of his exile from the USSR that he also became a great cultural bridge between the States and the Soviet Union.

Man, another great name and reminder of my music days is gone.
posted by NorthernLite at 11:58 AM on April 27, 2007

Sad news. I loved his albums, but I wasn't aware of his greatness in other arenas as well.
posted by bardic at 1:21 PM on April 27, 2007

joseph_elmhurst - that sketch was the first thing I thought of when I saw this.

Rostropovich was amazing not only for his musical legacy, but also for his endless humanitarian work.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 2:31 PM on April 27, 2007

Vita longa, ars longior.
posted by rob511 at 5:50 PM on April 27, 2007

My favorite Rostropovich memory is of him dressed as a ballerina in a pink tutu to celebrate Isaac Stern's birthday in 1990.
posted by girlhacker at 12:07 AM on April 28, 2007

Something on his funeral from the BBC.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:19 AM on April 29, 2007