House-Museum of Leopold and Mstislav Rostropovich, Baku

The House-Museum of Leopold and Mstislav Rostropovich in Baku is a significant cultural and historical site, dedicated to the lives and legacies of the renowned Rostropovich family. Established in 1998 and opened to the public in 2002, the museum is housed in the building where the family resided from 1925 to 1931.

The inception of the museum traces back to Leopold Rostropovich's move to Baku in 1925, prompted by an invitation from Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov. Leopold, along with his family, relocated from Orenburg, embarking on a new chapter in Azerbaijan where he and his wife took up teaching roles at the Azerbaijani State Conservatory. It was in this house on March 27, 1927, that their son, Mstislav Rostropovich, a future luminary in music as a cellist, pianist, and conductor, was born.

Significantly, the street where the museum is located is named after Mstislav's father, enhancing the site's historical importance. The opening ceremony of the museum was a memorable event attended by Mstislav Rostropovich himself, alongside his wife Galina Vishnevskaya, and numerous distinguished guests.

Today, the museum's collection boasts over 5,000 exhibits, meticulously preserved to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Rostropovich family. Visitors can explore items ranging from personal belongings like photographs, letters, and autographs, to Mstislav's concert tailcoat and conductor’s baton. The collection also includes gramophone records, various awards, and period artifacts such as a late 19th to early 20th-century carpet and furniture.

The layout of the museum includes four rooms and a hallway, with the initial section of the hallway and the first room designed as a memorial space. Each area within the museum is dedicated to different facets of Mstislav Rostropovich's creative life and distinct periods of his career, offering a profound insight into the musical and personal journey of one of the 20th century’s most celebrated musicians.