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Mstislav Rostropovich

(1927-2007), Cellist

Sitter in 7 portraits
The virtuoso cellist Rostropovich was taught by Shostakovich from 1943. He met Britten in 1960, who inspired him to write Sonata in C for cello and piano (1961), Cello Symphony (1963) and three Suites for Cello (1964-71). His own technique inspired Shostakovich, Britten and Prokoviev to compose new work, enlarging the classical cello repertoire. Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, Rostropovich's advocation of human rights brought him into conflict with the Soviet Union authorities. In 1974 he was exiled as a dissident and settled in America with his wife, Opera Soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, and daughters. He returned as communism collapsed, performing Bach cello suites throughout the night as the Berlin Wall came down.

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Mstislav Rostropovich

by Milein Cosman
etching, circa 1980
NPG 7102

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Recent acquisition

Benjamin Britten with Peter Pears, Galina Vishnevskaya, Mstislav Rostropovich and Marion Stein

by E.I. Iavno
bromide print, 1963
NPG x15245

Benjamin Britten and other musicians

by E.I. Iavno
bromide print, March 1963
NPG x15246

Mstislav Rostropovich; Benjamin Britten

possibly by Maria Donata ('Marion') (née Stein), Countess of Harewood (later Mrs Jeremy Thorpe)
snapshot print, June 1964
NPG x15244

Mstislav Rostropovich; Benjamin Britten

by Unknown photographer
bromide print, 1964
NPG x15247

Mstislav Rostropovich; Peter Pears; Benjamin Britten

by Unknown photographer
bromide print, 1965
NPG x15252

Mstislav Rostropovich; Hansjürg Lange; Princess Margaret of Hesse and by Rhine; Peter Pears; Rita Thompson

by East Anglian Daily Times
bromide print, 7 December 1976
NPG x15268

Related People

Galina Vishnevskaya (wife)

Groups

Place

Russia

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Mstislav Rostropovich