Rostrpovich performs Shostakovich's First Cello Concerto writeno FOR HIM and dedicated to HIM! He learned and MEMORIZED in just three days, and then came to Shostakovich's dacha to play it!

In Oct. 1959, when I was 17, we attended a Philadelphia Orchestra Youth Concert, conducted by Ormandy. It was on a Monday. The previous Friday, Rostropovich had done the US premier of this concerto, in the same hall. He had spent the weekend in his hotel nursing a cold, but when he heard that Ormandy was doing a youth concert, he expressed his liking for young audiences, asked if he could play. Ormandy said yes, and so we got to see this. We were a bunch of preppies, mostly who knew little of music, but we had the feeling that we had seen something very special and cheered wildly at the end. I have been a Rostropovich fanatic ever since.

I am an aging Australian who like many others of us love Shostakovich, Prokofiev etc. When I found this on KZfaq, played by Rostropovich for Shostakovich, conducted by my favourite conductor when I was a young student at university many years ago, I was ecstatic! I had goosebumps and teared up with the beautiful, sad experience of this magical performance of a great work of art! I loathe Stalin for the way he treated Shostakovich, Prokofiev and Katchaturian, three of the greatest 20th century composers. Thank you so much for this unforgettable piece of beautifully filmed black and white record of one of the great musical creations of the 20th century.

Can we just take some time to acknowledge the excellent, simple camera work and editing. Whoever was in charge knew the score so well, and didn't try any funny business..

I was present at the Kennedy Center on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Shostakovich, when Rostropovich played this. When people speak of the privilege of being present, I know what is meant. It was an unforgettable experience, one that I wished would never end.

I love Shostakovich since I was a teenager - the music is so uneasy, melancholic, intense and thrillingly austere, but with a dynamism that never wavers.

Шостакович - гений! А ведь его музыку запрещали в России. Критики говорили, что это не музыка а "набор звуков", но не смотря на непонииание со строны критиков Шостакович стал одним из самый великих русских композиторов!!!

That horn just rips through those lines in the first movement, doesn't it? If any of you've ever picked up a horn, you know how damned hard that is. Also props to the piccolo player for not pissing me off.

I was in the audience when Rostropovich gave the western premiere of this concerto with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra in about 1959 (I think). Almost as exciting as Rostropovich's performance, was the big parade of top Soviet and American composers led, of course by Shostakovich, walking on stage. You can imagine the thrill for the audience of hearing those opening notes for the very first time!

Whoever shot this must had dreamt of becoming a movie director! I felt like watching a movie by Hitchhock.

I never use bad language in public but this is one fucken astonishing performance by Rostropovich! I am just blown away!

00:22　I. Allegretto 06:36　II. Moderato 17:28　III. Cadenza - Attacca 22:27　IV. Allegro con moto

It's a shame Rostropovich died before I was old enough to appreciate his skill and genius.

I love hearing all the different versions of this concerto.

the single horn is just brilliant!

It's unbelievable that we can access such a historic performance with such little effort. Rostropovich is arguably the most influential cellist ever, and we get to see his brilliant, LIVE interpretation of Shostakovich's 1st cello concerto at hardly any cost. While I love that so many people have the opportunity to see this, it almost feels too good for a platform like youtube.

The conductor is Sir Charles Groves, The recording is made in London in 1960.

I heard Rostropovich several times during his best performing years. He was absolutely unbelievably great. To hear him live at that time in London was incredible. I never heard another cellist like him.

👏👏👏Браво великому советскому композитору Дмитрию Шостаковичу!!!!!

Right about after 13:44 I swear that brief spat of cello-piano-brass solos I felt like it was the sound of a mournful ghost who’s forgotten where it once lived and now it’s just tapping and clicking at the windows and doors of random houses in the village dark, trying to find where it should haunt. Chilly but gorgeous work.

There has never been another cellist like Rostropovich. I heard him in London live during his best playing years. He was unbelievably great. He was a true cellist genius.

He was an incredibly great cellist. I heard him during his best years in London a number of times. During those years he was super human. His amazing playing affected my life as a cellist. I have never heard anyone quite like that. Of course there were always fantastic cellists out there.

DMITRY SHOSTAKOVICH FOREVER!!!

I love these historical recordings...it puts us modern listeners right there in the audience. And this piece...WOW...the way Shostakovitch treats the cello almost like a percussion instrument is just amazing. Phenomenal piece.

So great. The 2nd movement bleak, as Shostakovich wanted, not ponderously slow and overwrought with huge and constant romantic style vibrato, as most cellist play it. Also Rostropovich maintains the level of sound throughout each bow, be it frog to tip or vice versa, like no other, without the seasick swells. Slava- who will ever be your equal?

I too was at the US premier at the Academy of Music sitting in the Pit.The Afternoon of the concert Rostropovich visited Settlement Music School in South Philly and he grabbed me(Paul Weinberg) and Judy Dorph(we were both studying Cello with Joseph Druian at Settlement) for a photo. Unfortunately, the photo didn't come out). One other thing about Rostropovich. He was very much a man who detested the Soviet regime and was treated shabbily by it-reduced to playing the cello on a tour boat in the Caspian Sea, before he left Russia for the US. A great cellist, musician and human being.

When I was a kid learning cello my mom plucked the Everest 3342 recording of this and the Dvorak concerto out of a sale bin at a record store. I found both sides mesmerizing and played them continually, and then I'd corral all the kids in my section and make them listen to 15:00 until the clarinet came in (in my recording, it was slightly sharp, and all I could imagine was the player dropping their jaw trying to make pitch!). I adore this concerto. Rostropovich was so good to Shostakovich...like a son to him in a way, just very devoted. The second concerto is completely different. In places it sounds like a circus. However, in Soviet Russia one had to maneuver artistically in order to avoid running afoul of the authorities and being sent to Siberia or worse. Shostakovich ruined his health and happiness trying not to be arrested, despite being the greatest Soviet (or, for that matter, Russian) composer of all time...even including Stravinsky, who I really dig.

23:32 oh my goodness, the clarity is just amazing

26:45 the famous bow grip!

Rostropovich, the epitome of cello talent and genius

this video is a real treasure

what i wouldn't give to be at that concert...

my friend who’s a senior at my school is playing this tomorrow (as the cello soloist) for our local youth orchestra which i am also a part of, albeit in a lower ensemble. unfortunately i’m not able to go to his performance, but I do wish him the best luck in performing such a prestigious piece!

I’m glad this video is back up. I needed it when I was trying to fly to Chicago to audition for DePaul, but it got a copyright strike 😔

I saw this man live in Vancouver, B.C. His playing was so spell binding I was transported to an understanding of what great artistry is. Absolutely breathtaking!

💯 *You can see life in new colors* *THANK YOU , Dmitry Dmitrievich* *Shostakovich* 🔥 *THANK YOU VERY MUCH , MAESTRO!* 💥

I. Allegretto, 0:22 II. Moderato, 6:39 III. Cadenza, 17:32 IV. Allegro Con Moto, 22:28

I feel prvileged to have heard him from 1975 until 1993 in various programmes around europe. Certainly a most fascinating musician and the most influential cellist of the 2nd half of the 20th century. Thank you,slava

Timeless! Moving! Happy Rostropovich's birthday :D Favorite cello concerto of all time~!

This recording is great! I was at YoYoma’s performance with BSO yesterday. Feel grateful for this music.

Grande Rostropovich. Una interpretación inolvidable y un concierto verdaderamente sublime!

Fire and brilliance. Astonishing purity of tone in the slow movement!

Бог-инструмента,слияние за гранью фантастики-единый организм!

un concerto joué divinement , les musiciens sont en harmonie avec la musique trop méconnue de dimitri chostakostavitch

How they superimpose the two videos at 5:04 is pretty cool!

7:15 There is yet another Rostropovich sitting in the orchestra!

This performance is fantastic and still one of my favourite videos!

Favorite part at 22:26 when he glances over at conductor because he knows exactly whcih note the orchestra is supposed to start, then a few seconds later hits that high note and pulls bow back with masterful force.

Shostakovich leads us to all kind of feelings.

Beyond words! Just listen and absorb this greatness; then throw to dumpster all "stars" and starlets.

If the last note of the cadenza isn't a scream of desparation I don't know what is. Phenomenal concerto, phenomenal performance. Sir Charles Groves, LSO (leader Hugh Maguire), BBC Studios recording

Феноменально во всем...

absolutely wonderful

So glad this video is back up! :D

Великолепно!!! Побольше бы записей Мстислава Ростроповича

I was lucky to have listened to Mstislav in concert and it was thrilling. His mastery of the cello is beyond comparison.

Beautiful vid. Rostro is scorching hot. Love the solo shots. This is first class all the way. Thanks for uploading.

saw mayiski playing this the other day and had no choice but to start liking shostakovich. this is brilliant.

So awesome !

ESTÁS VIVO ROSTROPOVICH ETERNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

fantastic !!!!

It leaves me breathless

Спасибо! Замечательно! Планка критерий начинает подниматься! Здорово!

With all due respect to Mr. Rostropovich, who was insanely talended, I can't help but think he looks like Dr. Eggman from Sonic with his long arms. More seriously, this is a beautiful performance, and extremely well recorded for the time.

Absolutely electrifying! No wonder DDS loved Slava so much! This performance makes the other versions I've heard so far on utub seem kind of pathetic (though I certainly welcome all interpretations of this great piece). Admiration & gratitude to Sir Charles Groves & the London Symphony Orchestra musicians - and the recordists from EMI. I'm gonna take a long break before listening to any other music.

Best video in youtube history hands down.

Magnifique !

Glorious. Amazed that this has been here since 2012 and the details of this performance remain stubbornly out of the Description field. Namely, the year performed, performance venue, the name of the conductor and orchestra, and any other details of possible historical interest. This kind of content is YTs saving grace. It should do more to protect and promote it.

4:55 to 5:34 is the most iconic for allegro in my opinion

He was so good! I'm shook.

Muhteşem! Hazırlayan ve sunanlara minnettarım bu videoları.Tabii ki izlediğim eserin bestecisi ve yorumcularına da Allahtan Rahmet Nuru mükafatı diliyorum Aziz Ruhları için.

This is an absolute high when it comes to many aspects …. The music and performance of course, but also the the excellent way it is presented, the filming in black and white reflects the hopelessness etc.

THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice brisk tempo in the first movement. I was expecting a very slow second but was glad that the flow continued..

Maravilloso!

Thank you!

Two years later, he played the complete Bach cello suites at the Edinburgh Festival - phenomenal artistry and skill.

4:54 I saved this for myself. I love this part.

Legend.

Incredible.

Es una expresión cultural, clasicamente Soviética, llena de fuerza y profundidad, es mucho lo que se ha perdido con la masacre cometida contra la URSS, los ejemplos sobran como lo es este tipo de proyectos, el hegemonismo occidental redunda en la pobreza de la humanidad.

He is the best!!:):):)genius

Perfektes Cellospiel!

Don't get dismotivated, you're still young, you can easily have enought time of training to become a great cellist! My case is much more worrisome, I started violin classes when I was 22, today I'm 24! And still I train everyday to have my chance in the professional world as a musician. I believe when you love what you do, it will definitely be worth for you in your life.

It takes practice. I thought like that at first but then my teacher restored my confidence. I know this sounds stale, but practice makes perfect. Keep working at it! I'm also a 15 year old cellist with similar aspirations.

Среди музыкантов тех времён, на мой взгляд, самым совершенным был Растрапович! Сам Шостакович мог делать замечания скрипачу Ойстраху, когда тот играл его музыку. А, вот, Растраповичу никогда не делал.

Rostropovich! Lui è IL violoncellista!

Wow ! and Wow again.

rostropovitch au sommet de son art , avec jacqueline du pré et yo yo ma les plus grands violoncellistes du 20 éme siècle ,,

The first time you hear it it doesn't sound to great but if you listen again it suddenly becomes very powerfull

Imo, the best moments of the first movement are when the cello plays “accompanist” to the wind section. 2:35 and 4:55, specifically. I especially love 2:35; the counterpoint is so good and gives the impression of “something dark lurking underneath.”

What a treasure this is

Yeah dude, i'm a 17 year old cellist and I just started this. It just takes alot of work and you need to be committed to playing, and that commitment will take you places you'd never have dreamed of going. I started to get my shit together after I played the Saint Saens concerto when I was 16, and then I just kept going and going and now i'm here. Just saying, don't skip out on etudes. Popper and Piatti really helped me with technique.

Great!

00:20 1st Movement=Allegretto I 6:39 2nd Movement=Moderato II 17:39 3rd Movement=Candenza ||| 22:28 Final Movement=Allegro con moto IV

Kyrill Rodin tem, também, uma excelente performance dessa peça, gravada em CD.

Este concierto fue compuesto para él, no hay duda This concert was composite ​​for him, no doubt

A melody mellow played on a cello.

Очень хорошо ❤

Amazing