A Tribute to Slava: Rostropovich Remembered
Special program aired Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Mstislav Rostropovich was Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra from 1978 to 1994, and led
a triumphant return to Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990. He was one of the
planet's finest cellists. Ever. He hugged and kissed everyone he met. But there is much to tell
about Slava-the nickname he insisted everyone call him.
He was an inspired and inspiring teacher, with unusual coaching methods. He encouraged composers
(through commissions and friendships) to write more music for the cello than anyone else in history.
He loved all people, whether they be orchestra members, the NSO's stage crew, Alexander Solzhenitsyn,
or the waiter at the restaurant Slava convinced to stay open well past closing time. With his wife,
Galina Vishnevskaya, he established a foundation to fund children's medical needs in former Soviet
states.
On Wednesday, April 30, Classical WETA aired A Tribute to Slava, a special program that explored
Slava's life and career. Guests included cellist Lynn Harrell, conductor Hugh Wolff, NSO principal keyboard Lambert
Orkis, NSO assistant principal cellist Glenn Garlick, composer Augusta Read Thomas, Vishnevskaya-Rostropovich
Foundation Executive Director Billy Amoss, NSO Managing Director of Media Relations Patricia O'Kelly, former NSO
stage manager Joel King, and former NSO principal tuba and personnel manager David Bragunier. Classical WETA
Music Director and weekday morning host David Ginder produced and hosted the program.
Unfortunately, legal restrictions do not permit us to make the program available online. However, full audio from
the interviews is accessible below.
Complete versions of David’s conversations
Billy Amoss
Slava and his wife, soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, were involved in much more than music.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, they started the Vishnevskaya-Rostropovich
Foundation to assist with improving health care for children in Russia and other former-Soviet
states. David Ginder spoke with the Foundation's Executive Director, Billy Amoss.
Listen to the conversation >
Photo: Slava confers with VRF Executive Billy Amoss.
Joel King and David Bragunier
David Bragunier was NSO personnel manager and principal tuba when Slava was Music Director, and
Joel King was the stage manager during Slava's tenure.
David and Joel reminisce about recording the opera Boris Goudonov; why Slava used a baton to
conduct; Slava's attitude about "wrong notes;" playing in Red Square; bartering for great conductors
and soloists; thrilling the audience in Berlin's Philharmonie.
Listen to the conversation >
Photo: Joel King with Slava. Credit: Daryl Donley.
Lambert Orkis
In 1982, Mstislav Rostropovich was so taken by Lambert Orkis' piano playing that he created the
position of Principal Keyboard of the National Symphony Orchestra for him, a role in which Orkis
continues today. In addition to celebrating 20 years of performing partnership with violinist
Anne-Sophie Mutter this year, Orkis was recently awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the
Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic's highest tribute to individuals for service to the
nation.
Lambert talks about how his relationship with Slava started and developed, playing with Slava
for the President, a Slava housewarming, and other memories.
Listen to the conversation >
Photo: Lambert Orkis with Slava. Credit: Daryl Donley.
Lynn Harrell
Renowned cellist, teacher and Grammy Award winner Lynn Harrell remembers his first experience of
Slava's playing, sharing a moment of loss with Slava, and shares a story about Slava and Shostakovich
on composing for the cello.
Listen to the conversation >
Photo: Lynn Harrell. Credit: Christian Steiner.
Patricia O'Kelly
National Symphony Orchestra Managing Director of Media Relations
Patricia's tenure at the National Symphony Orchestra included providing support to Rostropovich
throughout his directorship. She remembers Slava's use of silence in music, zoo animals in Moscow
and Washington named after Slava, experiencing the emotional impact of Slava's return to Russia
after being exiled, Slava's description of Prokofiev's personality, insomnia with Slava and Leonard
Bernstein, what to do when Slava needs a cello on short notice, and more.
Listen to the conversation >
Photo: Patricia O'Kelly with Slava. Credit: Daryl Donley.
Augusta Read Thomas
Composer Augusta Read Thomas wrote five pieces for Slava. One was Ancient Chimes, with which
the NSO toured in 1990, including the historic trip to the USSR. Thomas was Chicago Symphony
Composer-In-Residence from 1997 to 2006. One of her CSO pieces, Astral Canticle, was one of two
finalists for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Music. She chats with David about her respect and love
for Slava, the importance of Britten and Shostakovich to Slava, and Prokofiev's "pink book" and
"blue book." She speculates as to why Slava had so much energy, and she tells about a new memorial
piece she has written for Slava.
Listen to the conversation >
Composer Augusta Read Thomas with Slava and Seiji Ozawa at the NYC premiere with the Boston Symphony of her Chanson for cello and orchestra.
Hugh Wolff
Conductor Hugh Wolff talks with David about the unusual circumstances of how he was chosen to
be the NSO's assistant conductor under Slava. Hugh went on to conduct the Saint Paul Chamber
Orchestra from '88 to 2000, and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony from '97 to 2006. He was recently
appointed Director of Orchestras at the New England Conservatory. Hugh talks about Slava's unlimited
energy, his brilliant communication skills (even with his poor English), and Hugh's wish that he and
other colleagues had more carefully documented all of Slava's insights into Shostakovich and the
other composers he knew well. He talks too about witnessing Slava conduct Shostakovich's 5th
Symphony in a hockey rink in Holland while the NSO was on tour.
Listen to the conversation >
Photo: Hugh Wolff. Credit: Frank Hülsbröhmer.
Glenn Garlick
Slava hired Glenn Garlick for the NSO cello section in 1980. Garlick has been Assistant Principal
Cellist with the orchestra since 1995. He spoke with David Ginder about unusual teaching methods, how
Slava persuaded Benjamin Britten to write a Suite for Cello, and how Slava prepared an orchestra for
a very nervous guest conductor-Dmitri Shostakovich.
Listen to the conversation >
Photo: Glenn Garlick. Credit: William Haroutounian.
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