Baku pays tribute to conductor Rostropovich
By Nigar Orujova
An event dedicated to the 87th birth anniversary of eminent cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich was held in the house-museum of Leopold and Mstislav Rostropovich in Baku.
During the event titled "The divine power, fate has led Rostropovich to conductor's stand" the participants praised the creative activities of Rostropovich. A collection of photographs, posters of concerts, conducted by the maestro was also put on display during the event.
The participants also got made a tour of an exhibition of artifacts from the fund of the house museum called "Mstislav Rostropovich at the conductor's podium."
The exhibition included posters and booklets of programs conducted by Rostropovich around the world and in Baku.
A poem "Magic of conductor" by poet Sevinj Heydarova was read at the event. Then a concert was given by pupils of the "Center of talent" affiliated with the Department of Culture and Tourism of Baku.
Musician, cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich was born in Baku in 1927. Although his family moved to Russia a few years later, he always loved Baku. "I am from Baku. Here I was born, my friends live here. Baku is my homeland, Baku is my home," he used to say.
Earlier on March 27, Moscow hosted the grand opening of the 5th International Mstislav Rostropovich Festival. Baku, Moscow, and Orenburg will hold international festivals dedicated to great cellist this spring.
The Moscow festival will last until April 5, the 2nd International Mstislav Rostropovich Festival in Orenburg will be held from April 23 to 27, while Baku will host the 7th International Mstislav Rostropovich Festival on May 12-19.
Opening the festival, the Festival's Artistic Director, Olga Rostropovich said, "Five years ago we set ourselves an ambitious task - to let the Moscow audience so beloved by Mstislav Rostropovich, the audience who loved him so much, to listen to all the best that exists on the world music scene.
"Today, at the beginning of the fifth Festival, I am happy, pride and fully responsible for my words saying that, despite the difficulties, we have made huge progress," she said.
This year's Festival includes eight concerts to be held in the Great Hall of the Conservatory and the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. The best symphony orchestras, soloists and conductors from the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Belgium, Norway will perform in Moscow.
"This proves the high status of the Festival, and that music always brings together all the people around the world. So it was, is and will be," she stressed.