Homage to Mstislav Rostropovich       Ott Concerto for Two Cellos

In 1984 Leonard Rose called upon me at the end of my studies with him and Channing Robbins at the Juilliard School of Music to try out for a position as cellist with the National Symphony Orchestra.  I agreed, with trepidation, knowing that I had only a short time to prepare.  Nine days later, Mstislav Rostropovich hired me to become a member of his orchestra in Washington, DC.  

Throughout the coming decade, at a time when I was particularly impressionable, performing with the National Symphony in approximately 450 concerts to packed houses in every corner of the world, I marveled at Slava’s ability to push music and musicians to their emotional limits.  Audiences were swept up in the experiences.  Amidst wild cheers and standing ovations, holding his heart and blowing kisses, Slava acknowledged adoring fans.  In his prime years as conductor, Slava seemed able to bring music alive spontaneously.  To this young musician, Slava had no limits.  I readily accepted his huge personality, which infused every phrase of every piece. 
 

Homage to Rostropovich

KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI - PER SLAVA (WRITTEN FOR MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH 1986)

 WILLIAM WALTON - PASSACAGLIA (WRITTEN FOR MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICHD 1982)

MOISEI VAINBERG SOLO SONATA OP. 72 (WRITTEN FOR MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH 1960)

 ALBERTO GINASTERA – PUNEÑA NO. 2 OP. 45 “Hommage à Paul Sacher”
(WRITTEN FOR MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH 1977)

MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH – Étude (Moderato)* (1940s MOSCOW)

MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH – Étude (Vivace)* (1940s MOSCOW) 

JOACHIM STUTSCHEWSKY COMPOSITION 1970 (TO MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH)
 
WITOLD  LUTOSLAWSKI - SACHER VARIATION (WRITTEN FOR MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH 1976)

DAVID DIAMOND - CONCERT PIECE* (WRITTEN FOR STEVEN HONIGBERG 1993)

ROBERT STARER – SONG OF SOLITUDE (WRITTEN FOR STEVEN HONIGBERG 1995)

 *Premiere recording

Slava Rostropovich Remembered: Fred Begun

 

Slava Rostropovich Remembered: Henry Fogel

 

Slava Rostropovich Remembered: Conductors Wolff, Litton & Fleischer

 

Slava Rostropovich Remembered: Efremov, Scribner, Freed, Klein