Since 2000, his charitable foundation has provided vaccinations for nearly 2 million children across the Russian Federation, protecting them against mumps, measles, rubella and hepatitis B. His work with these kids symbolizes all that is great about the Russian soul. For that reason, Russians love him — everyone knows him. You go to a remote village, they know of him. He reaches far beyond the music world.
--Maxim Vengerov on Rostropovich

Soho the Dog has the usual blogeloquence, emphasizing Rostropovich's deep and sophisticated talent for accompanying, with Mussorgsky provided as luminous proof.

Genius Out of Context

"I'm surprised at the number of people who don't pay attention at all, as if I'm invisible. Because, you know what? I'm makin' a lot of noise!"
--Joshua Bell, on playing at rush hour at the l'Enfant Plaza metro station in D.C.

Thanks to Justin Davidson over at The Rest is Noise for linking to this Washington Post Story.