London-based cellist Wilson, author of Shostakovich
and Jacqueline du Pré
, studied with acclaimed cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich (1927–2007) at the Moscow State Conservatory from 1964 to 1971. Noting that the Russian-born Rostropovich dominated the international concert scene for more than half a century, she adds, “For nearly as long as this, he has seemed to me like a personification of the cello itself.” Her key source is Rostropovich, as she interviewed him in nine cities across Europe over a span of 10 years. Writing with an exacting precision and exhaustive research, she has succeeded in documenting all aspects of his life as a musician and teacher in meticulous detail, taking the reader on a soaring journey that highlights his days with Britten, du Pré (“a voyage of discovery by equal masters, an inspired dialogue between two extraordinary artists”), Prokofiev and Shostakovich. Other chapters cover his influence and teaching methods and include an insightful analysis of the “metaphysical aspect of sound” in his music. With arpeggios of anecdotes punctuating her personal memories, Wilson has composed a symphony of sentences, a definitive portrait of the master cellist certain to be greeted with a crescendo of applause from both book lovers and music lovers. 40 b&w photos. (Jan. 4)
