Schubertiade :: [Britten, Benjamin. (1913–1976)] Rostropovich, Mstislav. (1927

[Britten, Benjamin. (1913–1976)] Rostropovich, Mstislav. (1927–2007)

Suite for Solo Cello - 1975 Signed Program from the American Premiere

Signed single-sheet program from the important cellist, who performed at Carnegie Hall on February 27, 1975 with pianist Samuel Sanders. The program included the first U.S. performance of Benjamin Britten's Suite for Solo Cello, no. 3, op. 87, which was dedicated to Rostropovich. Folding crease; overall very good. 8.5 x 11 inches (21.5 x 28 cm).

Britten composed the Third Suite in 1971, inspired by Rostropovich's playing of the unaccompanied Cello Suites of Bach. Rostropovich first performed the suite at the Snape Maltings, 21 December 1974. The Third Suite is in nine movements, and incorporates four Russian themes, including three arrangements of folksongs by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, reminiscent of Beethoven's use of Russian themes in the Razumovsky quartets. The final Russian tune, stated simply at the end of the set, is the Kontakion, the Russian Orthodox Hymn for the Dead. (17287)

Signed Document/Item Classical Music