As some of you may know, a great man passed away on 27th April, yesterday. Born and raised in Russia, Mstislav Rostropovich learnt not only the piano and cello, but also conducting and composition. His first claim to fame on the cello came when he won the Gold medal in the first EVER Soviet Union competition for young musicians.In 1950, at the age of 23, he was awarded the Stalin Prize, what was then considered the highest distinction in the Soviet Union. The Stalin Prize of 1st, 2nd and 3rd degrees was awarded annually to individuals in the fields of science, mathematics, literature, arts, and architecture to honour the most prominent achievements which either advanced the Soviet Union or the cause of socialism.
Rostropovich fought for art without borders, freedom of speech, and democratic values. He was also banned from several musical ensembles in his homeland after he left the Soviet Union to settle in the United States, and his Soviet citizenship was revoked in 1978 because of his public opposition of the Soviet Union's restriction of cultural freedom.
To honour his contributions, he was awarded The Order of Service to the Fatherland, First Degree, for his "outstanding contribution to the development of world music and many years of creative activity," presented by President Vladimir Putin, 02/26/2007. He was a great man, musician...husband and father, which some of us may never turn out to be.
He was a leader, a thinker and a pioneer. We shall all strive to be the same, and who knows....you may very well be the next Rostropovich =)
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