Mstislav Rostropovich: Monday YouTube Fix

Since January is a good month to stay inside and watch movies, I've decided it is officially Documentary Month.  Each Monday for the month of January I will post a new documentary that I enjoy.

After posting footage of Rostropovich performing the Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 2 last month I was inspired to watch this documentary on him.  The impact he had on cellists and the entire musical world can be summed up by this quote from Seiji Ozawa which appears at the beginning of the documentary:

"Because of him, I think that I believe there is a God."

-Seiji Ozawa

The concert footage interspersed throughout is phenomenal.  This is a wonderful film on Mstislav Rostropovich that hopefully you will find just as engaging as I did.

Enjoy!

Uploaded by Leksandr Komarov on 2014-02-12.

Mstislav Rostropovich: Monday YouTube Fix

Here is a hauntingly beautiful performance of the Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 2 by cello legend Mstislav Rostropovich.  This performance took place on September 25th, 1967 in the Large Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory.  He is accompanied by The State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the USSR conducted by Svetlanov.

He sure could play phrases that seemed to last days.  This is a wonderful performance of one of my favorite concertos of all time.

Enjoy!

The State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the USSR. Conductor: E. Svetlanov Violoncellist: M. Rostropovich Recorded live in the Large Hall of Moscow State Conservatory, September 25th, 1967

Monday YouTube Fix: Mstislav Rostropovich

One of the greatest cellists of all time playing my second favorite solo piece ever written. The Bach Cello Suites, as anyone who has ever attempted to play them on any instrument can tell you, are deceivingly difficult.  Whenever you are playing an unaccompanied piece you must be everything: the melody, the time, the harmony, everything.  Few in history have done this more convincingly than Rostropovich.

If I could play any instrument other than the tuba it would be the cello and that is because of people like this.

Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZwKjpEtnSQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player]