RIP, Slava
Mstislav Rostropovich has passed away and I'm finding myself practically dumbstruck. Slava was a hell of a cellist and I remember seeing him in Boston just a few years ago and being awed that he could play with such energy and ferocity in his mid-70s. His Shostakovich and Dvorak concerto recordings are an absolute joy to listen to and I always wanted to play with that kind of unabashed and unmitigated passion.
But even more than that, he was also a strong anti-Soviet and pro-freedom voice at a time when it was dangerous to do so. He took a stand for displaying the most beautiful, most wonderful, and most exciting art in the face of Soviet repression. He helped hide Alexandr Solzhenitsyn. This was at the peak of his artistic talent, when he had nothing to gain and everything to lose by making such a stand. The guy had heart and talent and an unrelenting sense of how to do something right, whether it was mastering a musical masterpiece or taking on a totalitarian regime.
At least he was able to die back in his Mother Russia at his homeland as a hero, as he completely deserved. But the world is a poorer place for his loss.
Click to viewBut even more than that, he was also a strong anti-Soviet and pro-freedom voice at a time when it was dangerous to do so. He took a stand for displaying the most beautiful, most wonderful, and most exciting art in the face of Soviet repression. He helped hide Alexandr Solzhenitsyn. This was at the peak of his artistic talent, when he had nothing to gain and everything to lose by making such a stand. The guy had heart and talent and an unrelenting sense of how to do something right, whether it was mastering a musical masterpiece or taking on a totalitarian regime.
At least he was able to die back in his Mother Russia at his homeland as a hero, as he completely deserved. But the world is a poorer place for his loss.