Product Description

Rostropovich demanded from his students the same exigent standards that he required from himself. His open master classes, held in Class 19 of the Moscow Conservatoire, were packed with students and teachers - not only of cello but of all instrumental disciplines. Usually seated at the piano, he conducted, cajoled and inspired his students to give of their best, and equally stimulated all his listeners. Drawing from her own vivid reminiscences and those of ex-students, documents from the Moscow Conservatoire and extensive interviews with Rostropovich himself, Elizabeth Wilson's book sets out to define the philosophy behind his teaching, and to recapture the atmosphere of the Conservatoire and Moscow's musical life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67201 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 382 pages

BBC Music Magazine, April 2007
The sweat, tears, exhaustion and exaltation are memorably
described.

Sunday Telegraph, April 2007
Wilson's warm-hearted tribute to her master cellist, and most
readers, as a result, will envy the members of Class 19.

Literary Review, May 2007
Wilson's (book) is eminently readable, often moving; I can think
of no other recently published book which gives such insight into the
moulding of musicians.