Mstislav Rostropovich

Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich (????????? ????????????? ????????????) (born March 27, 1927) is a Russian cellist and conductor, considered to be one of the greatest living cellists.

First concerts

Rostropovich gave his first cello concert in 1942. He won first prize at the international Music Awards of Prague and Budapest in 1947, 1949 and 1950. In 1950, at the age of 23 he was awarded what was then considered the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, the Stalin Prize. At that time, Rostropovich was already well known in his country and while actively pursuing his solo career, he taught at the Leningrad Conservatory (now Saint-Petersburg) and the Moscow Conservatory. In 1955, he married Galina Vishnevskaya, soprano at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Related Topics:
1942 - Prague - Budapest - 1947 - 1949 - 1950 - Stalin Prize - Leningrad Conservatory - Saint-Petersburg - Moscow Conservatory - Galina Vishnevskaya - Soprano - Bolshoi Theatre

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His international career started in 1964 in the then West Germany. As of this date, he went on several tours in the western Europe and met several composers, including Benjamin Britten. In 1967, he conducted Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin at the Bolshoi, thus letting forth his passion for both the role of conductor and the opera.

Related Topics:
Benjamin Britten - Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin

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