“People are craving this great progress in electronics, going after computers, the Internet, etc. It’s a great progress technologically. But they must have a balance for soul, a balance for human beauty. That means art has an important role.”
~Mstislav Rostropovich
I’ve had a happy few months exploring some of the great cellists and the cello repertoire. Ironically, all made possible because of technology – the computer, the internet, social media sites. The wisdom and the beauty of music, visual art, the artists – it all feeds my soul.
Mstislav Rostropovich was a truly great Russian cellist whose influence will be felt for generations. His goal was to make the cello as widely loved and respected as the violin. Hundreds of new works for cello (some great works that will last, others not so much but they needed trying) were written for and because of him.
He played for the love of making music. And to express the heart’s deepest longings, sorrows, and joys. Being Russian in the Communist era worked well for him for awhile, then his life turned when he became friends with, and defended Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.
This BBC documentary is a fascinating account of his life, his music, his responses to political situations, his teaching. It blew me away. After watching, the only thing I could do was play the piano.
Technology is failing me at the moment. I can’t get the video embedded on this post, but click here. It does work.
_____________________________________________________________
Thank you Anake, David and Musiqdragonfly for sharing so much. You’ve added to the light and beauty and joy in my day-to-day life.
Image: The Hands of Mstislav Rostropovich, 1961. ©Hulton-Deutsch Collection, via Alesario.
Filed under: Bach, Inspirational, Music History, Music Videos, Performance Tagged: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, cello, Classical music, Mstislav Rostropovich 
