Death of Mstislav Rostropovich

March 27, 1927 - April 27, 2007
| Age 80

Cellist, human rights crusader dies at age 80
Mstislav Rostropovich Obituary Photo

Tools to share this Obituary

Mstislav Rostropovich, the ebullient master cellist who fought for the rights of Soviet-era dissidents and later triumphantly played Bach suites below the crumbling Berlin Wall, has died. He was 80.

Rostropovich died Friday in a Moscow cancer hospital, the Itar-Tass news agency reported. Rostropovich's spokeswoman, Natalia Dollezhal, confirmed to The Associated Press that he had died but she did not provide other details.

Rostropovich, who resided in Paris after self-imposed...

Read Complete Obituary

View Charity

Record an Audio Memory — Use Your Phone — Free

Track Celebrity Deaths

Receive email notification about people of national interest.