Mstislav Rostropovich

Mstislav Rostropovich (born Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich on March 27, 1927, in Baku) was a renowned composer, pianist, conductor, teacher, and music teacher. He was a citizen of the Soviet Union, Russia, and Monaco. Rostropovich was educated at the Moscow Conservatory and the Gnessin State Musical College. His career in classical music spanned several decades until his death in Moscow on April 27, 2007.

Rostropovich received numerous awards throughout his lifetime, including the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland," the Medal "In memory of the 850th anniversary of Moscow," the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland," 2nd class, the Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945," the People's Artist of the RSFSR, the Medal "For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945," the Stalin Prize, the Honored Artist of the RSFSR, the Lenin Prize, the State Prize of the Russian Federation, and was elected as a Goodwill Ambassador by UNESCO.

He married Galina Vishnevskaya and they had a daughter, Elena Rostropovich. As a prominent figure in the classical music world, Mstislav Rostropovich left a lasting legacy in the multiple art forms he pursued.