Legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich was born in Azerbaijan, formerly part of the USSR. The intelligence and creativity of his interpretations have inspired contemporary composers such as Shostakovich, Britten and Prokofiev.

This 10-CD compilation consists of recordings of music made in the years 1950 to 1960 that had a very personal significance for him. Amongst the featured works are Bach’s Six Cello Suites, Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No.1, and Prokofiev’s Symphony-Concerto.

The music presented in this set also includes works by Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert and Schumann, Chopin, Fauré and Dvorák, as well as music by the great Russian composers Tchaikovsky, Glazunov and Borodin.

To accompany the master cellist are artists who were personal friends such as Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels and Leonid Kogan, as well as the conductors Eugene Ormandy and Kurt Sanderling with the Philadelphia Orchestra and a variety of renowned orchestras from Moscow and Leningrad.

Contents:
CD 1
- Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No.1 in Eb major, op.107
Philadelphia Orchestra / Eugene Ormandy. 1959

- Tchaikovsky: Pezzo Capriccioso, op.62
Moscow Philharmonic / Kirill Kondrashin. 1960
 
- Chopin: Introduction and Polonaise Brillante in C major
Alexander Dedyukhin (piano)
Moscow Philharmonic / Kirill Kondrashin. 1954

CD 2
- Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No.1 in A minor, op.33
Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra / Grigory Stolyarov. 1953

- Faure: Piano Quartet No.1 in C minor, op.15
Emil Gilels (piano), Leonid Kogan (violin), Rudolf Barshai (viola). 1958

CD 3
- Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor, op.129
Moscow Symphony Orchestra / Samuel Samosud. 1954

Schumann: 5 Stücke im Volkston op.102 (Excerpts)
- IV Nicht zu rasch
- I Mit Humor (“Vanitas, vanitatum”)
- III Nicht schnell, mit viel Ton zu spielen
Vladimir Yampolsky (piano). 1954

- Schumann: Träumerei (Kinderszenen op.5 no.7)
- Schubert: Impromptu D 899 No.3 (trans. Jascha Heifetz/Mstislav Rostropovich)
Alexander Dedyukhin (piano). 1956

CD 4
- Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor, op.104
Staatliches Rundfunk der UDSSR / Boris Khaikin. 1957

CD 5
- Prokofiev: Sonata for cello and piano in C major, op.119
Sviatoslav Richter (piano). 1954

- Rachmaninov: Vocalise No.14, op.34
Alexander Dedyukhin (piano). 1956

- Glazunov: Chant du ménéstrel, op.71
Moscow Youth Symphony orchestra / Kirill Kondrashin. 1954

- Borodin: Polowetzer Tänze (Prinz Igor)
Walter Naum (piano). 1954

- Granados: Intermezzo (Goyescas)
Alexander Dedyukhin (piano). 1954

CD 6
- Prokofiev: Symphony-Concerto for Cello & Orch. op.125
Leningrad State Orchestra / Kurt Sanderling. 1954

- Prokofiev: Adagio (Cinderella)
Alexsander Dedyukhin (piano). 1954

CD 7/8
- J S Bach: Six Cello Suites BWV 1007-1012
Recorded 1955

CD 9
- Beethoven: Piano Trio in B-flat major, op.97
Emil Gilels (piano), Leonid Kogan (violin). 1956

CD 10
- Haydn: Piano trio D major Hob. XV:16
Emil Gilels (piano), Leonid Kogan (violin). 1951

- Schumann: Piano trio D minor op.63
Emil Gilels (piano), Leonid Kogan (violin). 1958