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Russian maestro Rostropovich dies Russian maestro Rostropovich dies
(20 minutes later)
The celebrated Russian cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich has died at the age of 80.The celebrated Russian cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich has died at the age of 80.
A master musician, Mr Rostropovich was also renowned for his backing for human rights and opposition to Soviet rule.A master musician, Mr Rostropovich was also renowned for his backing for human rights and opposition to Soviet rule.
He spent much of his career abroad, in self-imposed exile from the Soviet Union over his support for Nobel prize writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn.He spent much of his career abroad, in self-imposed exile from the Soviet Union over his support for Nobel prize writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
But he returned as communism collapsed and performed a Bach suite as the Berlin Wall came down. But he returned as communism collapsed and performed a Bach suite as the Berlin Wall came down in 1989.
President Vladimir Putin said that his death was a "terrible loss" for Russian culture.President Vladimir Putin said that his death was a "terrible loss" for Russian culture.
The best step was not found in music, but in one page of this letter Mstislav Rostropovich Obituary: RostropovichThe best step was not found in music, but in one page of this letter Mstislav Rostropovich Obituary: Rostropovich
At Mr Rostropovich's 80th birthday celebrations a month ago, Mr Putin called the musician not only "a brilliant cellist and gifted conductor," but also "a firm defender of human rights".At Mr Rostropovich's 80th birthday celebrations a month ago, Mr Putin called the musician not only "a brilliant cellist and gifted conductor," but also "a firm defender of human rights".
He died at a Moscow clinic after a long illness, his spokeswoman said.He died at a Moscow clinic after a long illness, his spokeswoman said.
Reports from Russia said he would be buried in Moscow's Novodevichy cemetery, where his friend, the former President Boris Yeltsin, was laid to rest earlier this week.Reports from Russia said he would be buried in Moscow's Novodevichy cemetery, where his friend, the former President Boris Yeltsin, was laid to rest earlier this week.
Exile overseasExile overseas
Mr Rostropovich studied at the Moscow Conservatoire under composers such as Sergei Prokofiev and Dimitry Shostakovich, rapidly building a reputation for himself. Mr Rostropovich studied at the Moscow Conservatoire under composers such as Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich, rapidly building a reputation for himself.
The cellist played Bach as the Berlin Wall came downThe cellist played Bach as the Berlin Wall came down
But his support for dissidents such as Mr Solzhenitsyn - declared in a letter to state-run newspaper Pravda in 1970 - made him a target for the Russian authorities.But his support for dissidents such as Mr Solzhenitsyn - declared in a letter to state-run newspaper Pravda in 1970 - made him a target for the Russian authorities.
He left the Soviet Union and spent several years in the West with his wife, soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, and their children, as he continued to build an international career.He left the Soviet Union and spent several years in the West with his wife, soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, and their children, as he continued to build an international career.
In November 1989, he gave a impromptu performance at the Berlin Wall as demonstrators tore it down, a show that was reported around the world.In November 1989, he gave a impromptu performance at the Berlin Wall as demonstrators tore it down, a show that was reported around the world.
A few years later, the cellist was rehabilitated by then Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and he was able to return to Russia to perform. Later the cellist was rehabilitated by then Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and he was able to return to Russia to perform.
In August 1991, he flew to Moscow to support Mr Yeltsin as hard-liners attempted to overthrow Mr Gorbachev's era of glasnost and perestroika, spending days protesting in the parliament building. In August 1991, he flew to Moscow to support Mr Yeltsin as hardliners attempted to reverse Mr Gorbachev's glasnost and perestroika reforms, spending days protesting in the parliament building.
He latterly divided his time between Russia, the US and France.He latterly divided his time between Russia, the US and France.
In an interview with the BBC World Service in 2002, he said that the letter to Pravda was the best thing he had done in his life.In an interview with the BBC World Service in 2002, he said that the letter to Pravda was the best thing he had done in his life.
"The best step was not found in music, but in one page of this letter," he said. "Since that moment my conscience was clean and clear.""The best step was not found in music, but in one page of this letter," he said. "Since that moment my conscience was clean and clear."
You can send us your tributes and recollections about Mstislav Rostropovich using the post form below:
You can send us your tributes and recollections about Mstislav Rostropovich using the post form below:
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