Rostropovich, Mstislav Leopol'dovich
(*1927)
Rostropovich [Ruhstrapóveech], Mstislav Leopol'dovich (3–27–1927, Baku). Cellist, pianist, cond., and comp. Husband of soprano G. Vishnevskaya, whom he has often accomp. at the pf. Grad. 1948 as a cellist from the M. Cons., where his teachers incl. S. Kozolupov (vc), Shebalin, and Shostakovich (comp.). Also studied privately with Prokof'yev at the latter's dacha outside of M. Won the International Competition for Cellists in Prague, 1950 and was awarded the Stalin Prize in 1951. In 1956 became…