Famous musicians are gathering in Baku this week to take part in the 9th Mstislav Rostropovich International Festival, which celebrates the life and work of the acclaimed cellist and conductor of the same name.
The festival, which was opened Sunday by his daughter and concludes Thursday, has brought together the St. Petersburg Academic Symphony Orchestra led by Yuri Temirkanov, the Staatskapelle Dresden Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra Vienna – Berlin. In addition, German cellist Daniel Müller-Schott, Austrian violinist and conductor Rainer Honeck, Israeli conductor Omer Meir Wellber, and American pianist Kit Armstrong and are amongst the celebrants.
Rostropovich, a Baku-born Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor, is considered one of the greatest cellists of the twentieth century. He is credited with inspiring and commissioning new works for the cello, said to have enlarged its repertoire more than any cellist before him or ever since.
Throughout his lifetime, Rostropovich, who lived from March 27, 1927 until April 27, 2007, formed artistic partnerships with composers such as Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofiev, Henri Dutilleux, Witold Lutosławski and Olivier Messiaen.
Olga Rostropovich, an artistic director and a daughter of the celebrated cellist, believes that the legacy of her father brings together those who love classical music.
“Baku is one of my favorite cities, and every time I come here with love,” she said during the opening ceremony held in Baku’s Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall.
“Festivals dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Mstislav Rostropovich were held in Russia, the United States, France, and today this significant event is taking place in Azerbaijan. The legacy of Mstislav Rostropovich unites hearts, peoples and countries,” Rostropovich added.
The festival’s opening day featured performances of the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra led by Rauf Abdullayev, as well as pianist Murad Adigozalzade and violinist Umida Abbasova.
The event is supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Rostropovich Foundation for Cultural and Humanitarian Programs.
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