CULTURE
Mstislav Rostropovich Festival due in Orenburg

Baku, December 4, AZERTAC
The Third Mstislav Rostropovich International Festival has kicked off in Orenburg, Russia.
Baku-born Mstislav Rostropovich was a world-renowned cellist and conductor. He is considered to be one of the greatest cellists ever to have lived. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was well known for both inspiring and commissioning new works, which enlarged the cello repertoire more than any cellist before or since. He gave the premieres of over 100 pieces, forming long-standing friendships and artistic partnerships with composers including Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofiev, Henri Dutilleux, Witold Lutosławski, Olivier Messiaen, Luciano Berio, Krzysztof Penderecki, Alfred Schnittke, Norbert Moret, Andreas Makris and Benjamin Britten.
Rostropovich was internationally recognized as a staunch advocate of human rights, and was awarded the 1974 Award of the International League of Human Rights. Rostropovich was a huge influence on the younger generation of cellists. Many have openly acknowledged their debt to his example