MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH

by Elizabeth Wilson

Published to coincide with Rostropovich's 80th birthday celebrations Mstislav Rostropovich, internationally recognised as one of the world's finest cellists and musicians, has always maintained that teaching is an important responsibility for great artists. Before his emigration in 1974 from Russia to the West, Rostropovich taught several generations of the brightest Russian talents - as Professor of the Moscow Conservatoire - over a continuous period of two decades. His students included such artists as Jacqueline du Pre, Nataliyia Gutman, Karine Georgian, Ivan Monighetti and many others Rostropovich's teaching represented not only his individual approach to cello repertoire and instrumental technique, but also comprised a philosophy of life. As soon as he returned from his frequent concert tours, he would launch himself with whirlwind energy into his teaching activities. His lessons, which were conducted as open masterclasses, were awaited eagerly as an event of huge importance. Class 19 of the Moscow Conservatoire, where they were held, was usually packed with students (violinists, conductors and pianists as well as cellists). Often other professors dropped in, as did visiting musicians. The lessons were performances in Rostropovich - usually seated at the piano - cajoled and inspired his students to give the best of themselves. His comments went far beyond correcting the students in making them understand the essence of the work they were playing. Often this was done through striking imagery, and as such the lessons were addressed to the wider audience present in the classroom as well as to the individual student. Drawing from her own vivid reminiscences and those of ex-students, documents from the Moscow Conservatoire and extensive interviews with Rostropovich himself, Elizabeth Wilson's book sets out to define his teaching, and to recapture the atmosphere of the conservatoire and Moscow's musical life.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

400 pages, Hardcover

First published November 5, 2007

About the author

Elizabeth Wilson is a pioneer in the development of fashion studies, and has been a university professor, feminist campaigner and activist. Her writing career began in the ‘underground’ magazines of the early 1970s, (Frendz, Red Rag, Spare Rib, Come Together) before she became an academic. She's written for the Guardian and her non-fiction books include Adorned in Dreams (1985, 2003), The Sphinx in the City (1992) (shortlisted for the Manchester Odd Fellows Prize), Bohemians (2000) and Love Game (2014) (long listed for the William Hill sportswriting prize), as well as six crime novels, including War Damage (2009) and The Girl in Berlin (2012) (long listed for the Golden Dagger Award).

There is more than one author with this name in the database. This is the disambiguation profile for authors named Elizabeth Wilson.

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely outstanding and compelling. This will be appreciated more by cellist or musicians who know the cello repertoire. Mstislav - we love you!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular. Full of all the interest a cellist would hope for from a book on this musical legend. Well written too. As musically inspiring as it is informative.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I was reading this I listened to music videos on YouTube of this great cellist! Wonderful!

[bob tokarczuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

[charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

good, inspirational, lines up core repertoire and gives context.

[Matt Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book after my first orchestra performance. I was a little burnt out from cello, and I started seriously burning through the pages while I was on a plane. Almost a month later, I'd finished the book, and I got home to my cello. I picked it up and my playing had improved. I think I'd absorbed some of Rostropovich's lessons through Wilson's excellent writing.

Like her biography on Shostakovich, this book is exceptionally detailed and well-sourced. However, this book is limited in scope: it barely touches on Rostropovich's life after his departure from the Soviet Union.

[Ai · Rating 4 out of 5]

eeeeeeeeexcellent!!!!!