Mstislav Rostropovich - Soviet musician, composer, conductor, public figure. He was awarded prestigious state prizes and awards, but, despite the very peak of the composer's career, the Soviet authorities included Mstislav in the "black list". The indignation of the authorities was caused by the fact that Rostropovich, together with his family, moved to America in the mid-70s.
Childhood and youth
The composer comes from sunny Baku. He was born on March 27, 1927. Mstislav's parents were directly related to music, so they tried to develop creativity in their son. The head of the family played the cello, and his mother played the piano. They were professional musicians. At the age of four, Rostropovich Jr. owned the piano and could reproduce recently heard musical compositions by ear. At 8, his father taught his son to play the cello.
Already in the early 30s, the family moved to the capital of Russia. In the metropolis, he finally entered the music school. The father of the young talent taught at the educational institution. At the end of the 30s, Rostropovich's first concert took place.
After receiving secondary education, Mstislav further wanted to develop in the chosen direction. The young man entered the conservatory. He dreamed of improvisation and wanted to compose compositions. Mstislav could not realize his plans, since the Second World War began in the USSR. The family was evacuated to Orenburg. At the age of 14, he entered the music school, where his father taught. In Orenburg, Rostropovich began to organize the first concerts.
The creative start began after Rostropovich got a job at the opera house. Here he composes works for piano and cello. In the early 40s, Mstislav was trailing the trail of a promising musician and composer.
In the 43rd year of the last century, the Rostropovich family returned to the capital of Russia. The young man resumed his studies at the school. The teachers highly appreciated the student's abilities.
In the mid-40s of the last century, he received a diploma in two directions at once: composer and cellist. After that, Mstislav entered graduate school. Rostropovich began teaching at music schools in St. Petersburg and Moscow.
Mstislav Rostropovich: Creative way
At the end of the 40s, Mstislav pleased not only Russian fans of classical music with a performance - he visited Kyiv for the first time. He strengthened his authority with victories in music competitions. At the same time, Rostropovich visited a number of European countries. International success strengthens his authority. He constantly improved his knowledge. He wanted to be the best. He honed his skills and worked hard.
In the mid-50s, at the Prague Spring festival, he met the brilliant opera singer Galina Vishnevskaya. Since then, they have often been seen together. Galina performed accompanied by Mstislav.
Some time later, Rostropovich made his debut as a conductor. He stood at the conductor's stand during the production of "Eugene Onegin" at the Bolshoi Theater. He felt that he was in the right place. His talent as a conductor was highly appreciated not only by the audience, but also by his colleagues.
At the end of the 50s, the musician was in great demand. On the wave of popularity, he teaches at an educational institution, conducts at the Bolshoi Theater, tours and writes musical works.
He had his own opinion on everything. Mstislav could speak openly about modern music and the current situation in the USSR. The questions that worried the maestro did not go unnoticed.
A great event in the cultural world was the performance of the musician with the Bach suite. He performed the work on his musical instrument near the Berlin Wall. He fought against the persecution of Russian poets and writers. He even provided Solzhenitsyn with shelter in his own dacha. And if earlier the authorities admired the cultural activities of Mstislav, then after the activity of the maestro, he was on the “black list”. He was closely watched by the country's minister of culture.
Activity cost the maestro dearly. He was fired from the Bolshoi Theatre. Mstislav decided to finally shut off the oxygen. Now he could not tour in European countries. He was not allowed to perform in the capital's orchestras.
Moving of the Rostropovich family to the USA
The composer understood his position, so the only thing he wanted was to get a visa, take his family and leave the Soviet Union. He managed to achieve what he set out to do. He emigrated to America with his family. After 4 years, the Rostropovich family will be deprived of citizenship, and accused of betraying the Motherland.
Moving and adapting to the United States cost Mstislav dearly. For a long time he did not perform, but meanwhile, the man was forced to provide for his family. Over time, he will begin to hold the first concerts for American music lovers. The situation changed radically after he took up the position of artistic director of the Washington Symphony Orchestra.
After 16 years of living in a foreign country, recognition came to the maestro. He was considered a real genius. The USSR government even offered the composer and his wife to return to their homeland with the return of citizenship, but Rostropovich did not consider the option of returning to the Soviet Union. By that time, he had fully adapted to America.
Doors to almost any country were opened for the Rostropovich family. Mstislav even visited Moscow. When he returned to Russia, he was very soft. In 1993, he decided to move to St. Petersburg.
Mstislav Rostropovich: Details of his personal life
Opera singer Galina Vishnevskaya liked the musician at first sight. In one of the interviews, he told how he tried to take care of the beauty: he paid attention to her, filled up with hundreds of compliments and changed costumes several times a day. Mstislav has never been distinguished by beauty. He was thrilled at the sight of Galina.
At the time of meeting Galina was at the peak of popularity. Thousands of men around the world dreamed about her. Mstislav won the heart of a capricious lady with aristocratic habits and intellect. On the 4th day of their acquaintance, the musician made a marriage proposal to the lady. Galina, who was a little embarrassed by the speed of events, reciprocated.
For some time the couple lived in the house of Mstislav's parents. She bought her family a home a year later. In the mid-50s, Galina gave birth to her husband's daughter, who was named Olga. The musician was crazy about his wife. He filled her with expensive gifts and tried not to refuse her anything.
At the end of the 50s, a second daughter was born, whom loving parents named Elena. Despite being very busy, the father studied music with his daughters and spent time with them to the maximum.
Death of the composer
In 2007, the musician felt frankly bad. During the year he was hospitalized several times. Doctors found a tumor in the maestro's liver. After the diagnosis was made, the surgeons performed the operation, but Rostropovich's body reacted extremely negatively to the intervention. In the last days of April 2007, he passed away. Cancer and the consequences of rehabilitation cost the composer his life.
