 Known throughout the classical music world as Slava - the Russian diminutive meaning "glory" - Mstislav Rostropovich was not only a maestro but also a courageous defender of human rights. He remained loyal to the composers Prokofiev and Shostakovich, when they fell out of favour with the Soviet authorities, and went into exile from the Soviet Union in 1974 after his refusal to dissociate himself from the dissident novelist, Alexander Solzhenitsyn. Mstislav Rostropovich was regarded as the greatest cellist since Pablo Casals. He was born in 1927 in Baku, by the Caspian Sea, with music in his blood. His mother was a pianist and his father a cellist, pianist and composer. Young Mstislav's ability was evident by the age of five. But when the family moved to Moscow to nurture his talent, they were reduced to begging for a room. With help, they survived, and Rostropovich's musical education continued apace. He was already composing before he was given some early instruction in conducting, when he accompanied his father to an orchestra rehearsal. But Rostropovich was not always a willing pupil. And when his father died, the pupil became a teacher and the family breadwinner. By now an accomplished pianist and cellist, he took over his father's orchestral and teaching commitments until he and his sister, a violinist, secured places at the Moscow Conservatoire. There, Mstislav joined Class Number 35 and was taught composition by Dmitri Shostakovich, who became a life-long friend. He dedicated two cello concertos to Rostropovich. From 1956, Rostropovich was a frequent visitor to Britain and formed a bond with Benjamin Britten and the Aldeburgh Festival. On his first appearance there, he accompanied his wife, the acclaimed soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, on piano. But the highlight was when Rostropovich, with Britten at the piano, played the Cello Sonata which Britten had composed specially for him. It was not just the genius of Rostropovich that earned him universal admiration, but his refusal to be cowed by the Soviet authorities. When Rostropovich demonstrated his support for the Nobel Prize-winning novelist, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, by allowing him to live in his dacha outside Moscow, his defiance proved too much for the authorities. He and his wife were prevented from working abroad and after they were allowed to leave, were shocked in 1978 to learn at their home in Paris that they had been deprived of their Soviet citizenship - two more victims of cultural repression. But there was a warm welcome in the West, even if artistic merit was reinforced by political considerations. Rostropovich became permanent conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington. He also performed with the London Philharmonic; and each time he arrived in Aldeburgh, went straight to the cemetery to hug Benjamin Britten's tomb. A bear hug was his normal greeting for his many friends. He inspired composers to write dozens of major works for him and was himself inspired by events, playing JS Bach in the rubble of the Berlin Wall and rushing to help Boris Yeltsin resist the attempted coup in Moscow in 1991. For his outstanding services to British music, Rostropovich was given an honorary knighthood in 1987. As a conductor and performer, Rostropovich was flamboyant and individualistic. The music of Tchaikovsky was well-suited to his energy. His emotional power also made his interpretations of Dvorak widely acclaimed. For Mstislav Rostropovich, the cello was an extension of the man. See below for DVD Videos with Mstislav Rostropovich, or click here to see all records by this artist. |
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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Tchaikovsky: Mstislav Rostropovich & Benjamin Britten
Britten: | Gloriana (extracts) Bonus. Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Aldeburgh, 5 June 1970 Peter Pears (tenor) The Aldeburgh Fesitval Singers | Tchaikovsky: | Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Aldeburgh, 16 June 1968 Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) Pezzo capriccioso, Op. 62 for cello & orchestra (or cello & piano) Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Aldeburgh, 16 June 1968 Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) Romeo & Juliet - Fantasy Overture Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Aldeburgh, 16 June 1968 |
“These recordings represent an overview of twenty of the most heady years of Mstislav Rostropovich’s career, during which he made his name in the West, was exiled from his homeland for his support of dissident artists, poets and musicians, and established himself as a major international force for (not just the musical) good.” (Chris de Souza) Introduced to Britten through Shostakovich, his teacher, Rostropovich formed a close partnership with the British composer – as evident here in their collaborative performances from the opening concert of the new Snape Maltings Concert Hall, which includes rare audiovisual footage of the Maltings before it was destroyed by fire in 1969 and rebuilt. Rostropovich’s Aldeburgh performance of Variations on a Rococo Theme displays him at the peak of his powers and is a wonderful example of his partnership with Britten, of whom this is rare conducting footage. The excerpts from Britten’s opera Gloriana (the contemporary poetic name for Elizabeth I), included as the bonus of this DVD, are a highly significant addition to the composer’s discography. While Britten conducted recordings of most of his operas on disc, Gloriana was not one of them, so this is the only hint we have of his approach to any of the score. The well-chosen sections, forming an unusual concert suite, include The Lute Song performed by Peter Pears. This is the first release of this material on DVD, and is available in time for the Britten centenary in 2013. Sound format: Enhanced Mono DVD format: NTSC Picture format: 4:3 Running time: 68’ Subtitles: n/a Menu languages: English Booklet languages: E/F/G Region code: 0 Territory Restrictions: None “it is a joy to see the two musicians in partnership. Britten sympathetically accompanying with the ECO...The 'bonus' is a real treat: Britten conducting excerpts from Gloriana...both chorus and orchestra are fully alert to Britten's every gesture - a truly electrifying performance” BBC Music Magazine, January 2013 **** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Rostropovich - Life and Art
Recording Place & Date: Bloch & Schumann: Paris, Theatre Des Champ Elysees, 1976 & Strauss: Berlin, Berliner Philharmonie, 1975 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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 BBC Music Magazine
DVD Choice - August 2006 |
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| | | Dvorak/Saint Saens: Cello Concertos
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These glorious performances of possibly the most challenging and inspiring pieces in the cello repertory were recorded in the Abbey Church at Vezelay in France and released on CD in May 1995. Here at last was one of the true greats of the instrument finally taking on the ultimate challenge for a cellist and delivering a recording that met every expectation and more of both public and press. “The Basilique Sainte Madeleine's stern, ornate and majestic setting provides the perfect visual and acoustic context for Rostropovich's fluid, commanding solo Bach. His valuable spoken prefaces to each suite include casual demonstrations at the piano and organ.” Gramophone Magazine, April 2008 “Rostropovich's performances are masterly and all-involving, drawing distinctions between each work in his spoken introductions, although one can choose to hear the music without the commentaries. Unsurpassed and unsurpassable.” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Khachaturian
A film by Peter Rosen Written by Bill van Horn and Solomon Volkov This film is about the life of Khachaturian - a composer creating in the darkness of a tragic era. As we will see, like most Soviet citizens, he hid a complex private life behind a mask of Communist loyalty. Khachaturian was the President of the powerful Composer’s Union of the Soviet Union, and as a communist party functionary wielded great influence over the course of Russian music. However, he was also a comrade and personal friend to the dissident composers of the time – Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and others. This documentary shows the fine line a man had to tread between being a loyal party functionary on the one hand, and a fighter for artistic freedom on the other. Bonus: 1) Mstislav Rostropovich playing Concerto-Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra (24 mins) 2) Documentary: Making "Khachaturian" (17 mins) 3) Khachaturian: Piano Concerto - Third Movement (9 mins) Picture format DVD: NTSC 4:3 Sounds formats DVD: PCM Stereo Region code: 0 Booklet notes: English, German, French Original Languages: English, Russian Subtitles: English, Russian, Deutsch, Français, Japanese Running time: 83 mins (+ Bonus: 24 mins, 17 mins, 9 mins) “If this film falls between several stools, that very fact is an interesting symptom of the post-Soviet era. Perhaps the strongest points are some beautiful images of Tbilisi and Yerevan, a complete filmed performance of the Concerto-Rhapsody under the composer's baton with Rostropovich as soloist, and some thoughtful comments from composer Tigran Mansurian....it is hard to see anyone lining up to do better.” Gramophone Magazine, February 2012 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Caballé - Beyond MusicA Film by Antonio Farré
A documentary featuring one of the finest Spanish voices of recent times.The film accompanies Montserrat Caballé on a trip through the most significant cities, historical performances and audio recordings of her life. We witness her in conversation, in numerous historic performances and, through the testimonies of friends and fellow musicians, gain a deeper understanding of Montserrat the person and Caballé the artist. Caballé Beyond Music includes an exclusive selection of legendary audiovisual archives, some of them unpublished, which constitute probably the best operatic moments in existence. This film is a complex and passionate portrait of a woman who can only be described as a myth.Yet the objective is to get the truth which lies beyond the myth of this extraordinary performer - her sensitivity and vitality underscore her uncontested place as one of the greatest communicators of the 20th Century. "Music is magic and it is a privilege to live with it. With this film I wish to share with you the most important moments in my career, which are also the best moments of my life." Montserrat Caballé harmonia NTSC 16:9, DD 2.0, DTS 5.1 Region code: 0,Audience: all Languages: Spanish, German Subtitles: English, French, Italian Running time: 98 mins “The Spanish diva's career and artistry are presented mainly in her own words, with valuable commentary from colleagues such as Marilyn Horne and Domingo. Plus superb singing by Caballé.” BBC Music Magazine, March 2010 ***** “Speaking to camera with disarming directness and charm, “Montse” comes across not just as an exceptional vocalist, floating fabulously high pianissimos, but also as a professional with feet on the ground and a fun personality.” Financial Times, 2nd January 2010 **** | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | David Oistrakh, Artist of the People?A film by Bruno Monsaingeon
Alongside Fritz Kreisler, Jascha Heifetz, Nathan Milstein and Yehudi Menuhin, David Oistrakh is universally recognised not only as one of the few truly great violinists of the 20th century and as one of music's most striking personalities. As a result of the political situation of the time, and in particular of Stalinism and the Second World War, Oistrakh's career in the West developed relatively late. It was not until 1953 that he began to make regular appearances in the West, by which time he was already 45 years old, although his legendary reputation had already made him the subject of endless speculation throughout the Western musical world. His first proper international tours instantly confirmed the legend and from then until his death in Amsterdam in 1974 he pursued a varied career both in the concert hall, as soloist and conductor, and as a teacher. His genius as a musician inspired numerous composers to write for him - one thinks of sonatas and concertos by Prokofiev, Khachaturian and Shostakovich, among others, which he not only premiered but continued to perform all over the world. Oistrakh grew up in exceptionally troubled circumstances (he was born in Odessa in 1908) and was largely self-taught as a violinist, yet he became the true founder and undisputed master of the Soviet school of violinplaying, the most prestigious school of our times. Last but not least, Bruno Monsaingeon, the renowned film-maker, brings David Oistrakh's genius to life. Region Code NTSC: 0 Picture Format: NTSC, 4:3 Subtitles: GB, F Booklet: GB, D, F Disc Format: DVD9 No of Discs: 1 Run Time: 75 mins Released: 2008-10-01 “A brilliantly made documentary, with interviews with many great artists, not unfortunately Oistrakh himself. The world in which he lived is vividly evoked, but the snatches of his playing are agonisingly brief.” BBC Music Magazine, January 2009 **** “Monsaingeon's 1994 film, now making its DVD debut, examines the political context of Oistrakh's career as well as the nature of his musicianship. Oistrakh (1908-74) was the leading violinist in a generation of
brilliant Russian musicians who became instruments of the Soviet state. He negotiated the highwire between conformity and artistic freedom more easily than his peers, because he was by nature an unassuming man who
only wanted to make music. With the help of fascinating archive footage Monsaingeon traces Oistrakh's life-story from his youth in Odessa to his wartime exploits, when he joined the Communist Party - one of the
compromises necessary for survival. Oistrakh was part-Jewish but had no desire to leave the country that had nurtured him. Interviews with Gennadi Rozhdestvensky and Gidon Kremer explain how Oistrakh was
bullied and exploited by Soviet bureaucracy, but the most valuable clips show him duetting with Menuhin in the Bach Double Concerto, and playing Shostakovich's two concertos and talking to the composer. Here we can appreciate his humanity, his exceptional command and huge range
of intensity.” Financial Times | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Haydn: | Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major, Hob. VIIb:1 Recorded at the Henry Wood Hall, London, 17–19 November, 1975 Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major, Hob. VIIb:2 (Op. 101) Recorded at the Henry Wood Hall, London, 17–19 November, 1975 Keyboard Concerto No. 11 in D major, HobXVIII:11 Recorded at the Markgräfliches Opernhaus, Bayreuth, 23–27 November 1982 |
Booklet Notes: English, German, French | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Prom At The PalaceThe Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace 2002
Arne: | God save the Queen | Arnold: | Four Irish Dances Op. 126: Allegro energico Four Scottish Dances, Op. 59: Allegro Four Welsh Dances, Op. 138: Vivace Four Scottish Dances, Op. 59: Con brio | Bizet: | Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante (from Carmen) Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano) | Elgar: | Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D major, Op. 39 No. 1 | German: | The Yeomen of England (from Merrie England) Sir Thomas Allen (baritone) | Gershwin: | Summertime (from Porgy and Bess) | Handel: | Coronation Anthem No. 1, HWV258 'Zadok the Priest' Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV351: La Rejouissance Fireworks Music: La Paix Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV351: Overture Band of Her Majesty s Royal Marines | Holst: | The Planets: Jupiter | Messager: | Solo de concours Julian Bliss (clarinet), Ashley Wass (piano) | Puccini: | Vissi d'arte (from Tosca) E lucevan le stelle (from Tosca) | Rossini: | Largo al factotum (from Il barbiere di Siviglia) Sir Thomas Allen (baritone) | Tchaikovsky: | Swan Lake: Pas de deux Roberto Bolle (Prince Siegfried), Zenaida Yanowsky (Odile) | trad.: | Great getting-up morning Jubilee Spiritual London Adventist Chorale, Ken Burton | Verdi: | Libiamo, ne' lieti calici (from La Traviata) | Villa-Lobos: | Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1 for at least 8 cellos Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) | Walton: | Anniversary Fanfare |
All-time classical favourites from the first ever public concert held in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, hosted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Broadcast live on BBC Television, June 1st 2002. Opera fans are in for a particular treat with Dame Kiri te Kanawa (singing Bizet and Gershwin), Sir Thomas Allen (Rossini and Sir Edward German), and Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu (Puccini and Verdi) sharing the honours. Maestro Mstislav Rostropovich also makes a rare guest appearance with the cello section of the London Symphony Orchestra playing Villa-Lobos. Artists include: Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Sir Thomas Allen, The London Adventist Chorale, Julian Bliss, Ashley Wass, Roberto Bolle, Zenaida Yanowsky, Mstislav Rostropovich with cello section LSO, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Chorus, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, featuring music by Walton, Handel, Bizet, Gershwin, Holst, Tchaikovsky, Rossini, German, Arnold, Mendelsohn, Puccini, Verdi, Elgar and Arne. | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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Penguin Guide