RUSSIAN ’CELLIST

Press, Issue 29236, 21 June 1960, Page 20

RUSSIAN ’CELLIST

Rostropovich Concert

One of the world’s greatest 'cellists will give a concert in the Majestic Theatre on July 2. He Is the Russian, Mstislav Rostropovich, who has been acclaimed as the greatest ’cellist since Casals, although he is only 33. “One of the most amazing 'cellists of modern times,” said Alfred Frankenstein, of the San Francisco “Chronicle.” “A colossal technique, a fiery, temperamental, immensely exhilarating kind of musicianship.” In London last year, "The Times” said Rostropovich could “make his ’cello seem to express in one terse accompanying figure all the eloquence of poets and orators since the world began." “By his richly-burnished tone, his faultless technique and his deep feeling for the exact style and spirit of the music, he has established himself as the world’s No. 1 ’cellist since Casals,” said the "Daily Express." Rostropovich studied at the Moscow Conservatory, where he played sonatas with the famous pianist, Syvatoslav Richter, and in trio with Emil Gilels and Leonid Kogan. Since leaving the conservatory in' 1948 he has had works dedicated to him by many Soviet composers, among them concertos by Shostakovitch and Prokofiev.

He has a huge repertoire ranging from the classical period to the most recent works. His technique is such that he easily plays Paganini’s Perpetuum Mobile, written for virtuoso display on the violin.

"Rostropovich is a musician of rare genius and brilliant mastery,” Shostakovitch has written. “His art betrays a searching mind which sees in music the revelation of highest artistic principles. I am deeply moved by his power of execution.”

In Christchurch, Rostropovich will play sonatas by Brahms (No. 2 in F major, op. 99), and Shostakovitch (in D minor, op. 40), Bach's Unaccompanied Suite No. 5 in C minor and Falla’s Spanish Folk Song Suite.