The year 2000 (and the new century) had just begun when French documentary maker Bruno Monsaignon was invited by Mistislav Rostropovich to his home: the famous cellist wanted to hand him all the material of films and recordings he possessed… containers full. And although much was missing in terms of dates and information, it was immediately clear to Monsaignon what a valuable treasure he had in his hands. After several vodkas later, Monsaignon dared to ask the great maestro’s permission to make a film about his life. IIt has become a fascinating document full of historical footage and music excerpts:
Rostropovich was not only one of the greatest cellists of his time who inspired untold numbers of composers to write works for him, he was also an excellent pianist and conductor as well as a political activist and champion of human rights. In 1972, he was exiled and stripped of his nationality for defending his friend, the writer Alexandr Solzhenitsyn. After the fall of communism, he was rehabilitated and welcomed as a hero in the ‘new’ Russia.
The film begins with a party at the Barbican Centre in London. On the stage, the greatest of the great gather. There they are, all in a row: Kremer, Argerich, Vengerov, Jansons, Kissin, Penderecki, Ozawa…. In fact, who isn’t? Not even Margaret Thatcher is missing! The ‘birthday boy’ cuts the cake (in the shape of a cello), after which he gestures that it is now time to start drinking. It must have been Costly!
There is also a bonus. Two, actually. After Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations from 1986, we get a unique visual recording of Beethoven’s ‘Archduke Trio’ recorded in 1977, featuring Wilhelm Kempff and Yehudi Menuhin alongside Rostropovich; followed by the ‘Sarabande’ from Bach’s second cello solo suite recorded in 1969… Wow.
Bonus two treats us to table talk with the children of Rostropovich and Solzhenitsyn. How much more valuable do you want it to be?
Basia con fuoco 