In 1948 the first severe crash occurred in my life when Stalin put out his decree on 'formalism.' There was a bulletin board in the Moscow Conservatory. They posted the decree, which said Shostakovich's compositions and Prokofiev's were no longer… — Mstislav Rostropovich Copy Share Image
Every man must have the right fearlessly to think independently and express his opinion about what he knows, what he has personally thought about… — Mstislav Rostropovich Copy Share Image
Now I come to 75 years of age, I think what's most important in life is your conscience. If you told a lie and… — Mstislav Rostropovich Copy Share Image
You must play for the love of music. Perfect technique is not as important as making music from the heart. — Mstislav Rostropovich Copy Share Image
It is my aim, my destination in life to make the cello as beloved an instrument as the violin and piano. — Mstislav Rostropovich Copy Share Image
All my life I wanted to play music with love to every member of the audience. — Mstislav Rostropovich Copy Share Image
The war years were the most difficult time of my life. There was real famine in Moscow. The water froze inside the houses. There… — Mstislav Rostropovich Copy Share Image
You know creators, composers, need a palette for life, a color for life. — Mstislav Rostropovich Copy Share Image
In 1948 the first severe crash occurred in my life when Stalin put out his decree on 'formalism.' There was a bulletin board in… — Mstislav Rostropovich Copy Share Image
There is too much emphasis on technical perfection nowadays, and not enough on what music is actually about - irony, joy, human suffering, love. — Mstislav Rostropovich Copy Share Image
Now I want to use money in a good way. I make foundations back home in Russia, I have sponsored vaccinations for more than… — Mstislav Rostropovich Copy Share Image
Explain to me, please, why in our literature and art so often people absolutely incompetent in this field have the final word, — Mstislav Rostropovich Copy Share Image
Music is part of history, and our history has lessons that cannot be separated from our greatest music. — Mstislav Rostropovich Copy Share Image
