CELLIST AWARDED RUSSIAN STATE MEDAL
Acclaimed cellist and conductor MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH has picked up one of Russia’s top honours from President VLADIMIR PUTIN.
The leader signed a decree earlier today (26FEB07) awarding Rostropovich with the Order of Service to the Fatherland, First Degree, for his "outstanding contribution to the development of world music and many years of creative activity".
Putin has made no secret of his admiration for the 79-year-old musician - the concerned statesman visited him in hospital in Moscow earlier this month (06FEB07) after he was admitted with an undisclosed illness.
Rostropovich went into exile from the Soviet Union in 1974 after housing dissident writer ALEXANDER SOLZHENITSYN for four years.
He later became music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington - a position he held until 1994.
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
Related News: