Early Friday morning, legendary cellist, conductor and human rights advocate Mstislav Rostropovich died at the age of 80 in a Moscow hospital. We're going to spend much of today's show discussing his music and his legacy. We'll have reminiscences from two former proteges -- Emerson String Quartet cellist David Finckel and conductor Hugh Wolff -- as well as sections of an interview with Rostropovich himself. And we'll hear an inspirational performance by Rostropovich of a cello concerto by Nikolai Miaskovsky.
Episode Playlist
Johann Sebastian Bach: Movements 1 and 3 from Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007
Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich
Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonata for Viola da gamba in G Major, BMV 1027
Cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han
Leonard Bernstein: "Slava!"
The Dallas Wind Symphony with conductor Frederick Fennell
Nikolai Miaskovsky: Cello Concerto, Op. 66
Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich with the Philharmonia Orchestra and conductor Sir Malcolm Sargent
Dmitri Shostakovich: Burlesque from Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 77
Violinist Maxim Vengerov with conductor Mstislav Rostropovich and the London Symphony Orchestra
Girolamo Frescobaldi: Toccata No. 2
Pianist Francesco Schlieme
Ludwig van Beethoven: Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 11, no. 4 "Gassen Hauer" - Mvt. III
Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; Gervase de Peyer, clarinet; Benjamin Britten, piano
Gustav Mahler: Finale from Symphony No. 2
The Nashville Symphony Orchestra with conductor Leonard Slatkin
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American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.
Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.
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