One can blame - or thank-
Brezhnev and the dark days of Soviet hegemony for Rostropovich's
extended sojourn outside of his beloved Russia. Firmly believing
in artistic freedom, he and his wife sheltered the banned
novelist Alexander Solzhenitsyn, allowing him to live in their
dacha outside Moscow and writing an open letter to Brezhnev
protesting government restrictions on cultural freedom. Like
all human rights heroes, they were instantly persecuted, forbidden
to perform and to record, and with a stroke of the pen became
musical non-entities, their national awards and honorific
titles removed from the official records. In 1974 they were
driven to exile and four years later were stripped of their
Soviet citizenship. It was during this time that Rostropovich,
embraced by the West, became a true citizen of the world.
Concert tours would once again take him all over the world;
bereft of nationality, he carried with him in lieu of a passport
only a travel document issued from Monaco.
Then in 1990 communism collapsed. Deeply attached to their
native land, Rostropovich and his wife did not wait long to
visit Russia. It was a triumphant visit by all accounts, recorded
for showing on public television. Ever the Russian at heart,
the Maestro in 1990 sought and was granted reinstatement of
his citizenship. To this day, Rostropovich the humanitarian
continues to lend his name and stature to worthy causes. He
has staged benefit concerts in support of Azerbajian earthquake
relief efforts, children's health care in Russia and the construction
of homes for Russian veterans returning from the Baltic states.
QUITE SIMPLY, A GREAT
MAN
Rostropovich is perhaps
the most highly decorated man in the annals of music. The
honors and awards he continues to receive fill pages (those
interested - click here for listing).
Yet exhibiting a true mark of greatness, he is the epitome
of grace and humility both on stage and off. He fills the
concert hall with his calm presence - as soon as he appears
from the wings to take his place on center stage. Yet it is
with an aura that makes the audience feel that something very
special is about to happen. As it always does - playing the
slave to the music and never the other way around, Rostropovich
on stage is cello playing at its most masterful. Off stage,
one is moved by the warmth and genuineness of his personality.
It does not matter that one is a fellow VIP seeking to pay
his respects or just a plain awed music lover, he gives each
one the same giant bear hug (as only a Russian can) and a
generous share of his time. One always comes away after a
few precious minutes with him feeling he or she has been touched
by greatness. For indeed Maestro Rostropovich is, quite simply,
a great man.
Background music
clip is from Ludwig von Beethoven, Sonata No. 2 in G minor,
Op. 5 No.2, for Cello and Piano, Mstislav Rostropovich (cello),
Sviatoslav Richter (piano) (1963, 1967); Beethoven:
Complete Music for Cello and Piano; Philips D206206 (442
566-2), Philips Classics Productions 1994.
