
Mstislav Rostropovich: Cellist, Teacher, Legend
Elizabeth Wilson(Author)
Faber & Faber (Publisher)
Published on 5. April 2007
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-0-571-22051-9 (ISBN)
Description
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 themselves: 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.
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 themselves: 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.
More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 241 mm
Width: 163 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
780 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-571-22051-9 (9780571220519)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
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Elizabeth Wilson
Mstislav Rostropovich: Cellist, Teacher, Legend
E-Book
05/2011
Faber & Faber
€21.99
Available for download
Person
Elizabeth Wilson was born in London, attended schools in England, China and the USA and studied
cello at the Moscow Conservatoire with Mstislav Rostropovich, learning to speak fluent Russian whilst
there. On her return to London she embarked on a performing, teaching and writing career. Her
recently updated biography of Shostakovich - Shostakovich: A Life Remembered (Faber) - was first published to great critical acclaim in l994, and her biography of Jacqueline du Pre (Faber)- similarly acclaimed - was published in 1998.
cello at the Moscow Conservatoire with Mstislav Rostropovich, learning to speak fluent Russian whilst
there. On her return to London she embarked on a performing, teaching and writing career. Her
recently updated biography of Shostakovich - Shostakovich: A Life Remembered (Faber) - was first published to great critical acclaim in l994, and her biography of Jacqueline du Pre (Faber)- similarly acclaimed - was published in 1998.