Martin Steinberg
Guest Author
No image available
/ 28 April 2007

‘The most inspiring musician I have ever known’

Mstislav Rostropovich played the cello with grace and verve — and lived his life offstage the same way. His death at age 80 takes away one of modern Russia’s most compelling figures, admired both for his musical mastery and his defiance of Soviet repression. Rostropovich stirred souls with playing that was both intense and seemingly effortless.