Mstislav Rostropovich

Born 27 March 1927 in the Soviet Union, Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich became the cellist who changed the repertoire itself. His technique and interpretations built long friendships with composers — Prokofiev, Myaskovsky, Dutilleux, Lutosławski, Messiaen, Berio, Schnittke, Bernstein, Khachaturian — and he inspired over 100 premieres that enlarged what the cello could hold. Beyond music, he became a staunch advocate of human rights, earning the 1974 Award of the International League of Human Rights. Married to soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, father to two daughters, he collected honors includi…