Interpreting Music in the Age of Recording: The Collaboration Between Mstislav Rostropovich and Benjamin Britten

Abstract

Benjamin Britten, a prolific and distinguished English composer, and Mstislav Rostropovich, a virtuoso Russian cellist were both at the height of their popularity mid-twentieth century and were highly celebrated internationally. Upon their meeting in 1960, Britten and Rostropovich formed a uniquely personal and musical bond, and the resulting six pieces written for cello as well as their many recordings together demonstrate the depth of that friendship and collaborative inspiration.

This paper considers the question of musical authority and what may be considered a definitive interpretation, particularly when peering through the lens of recordings. When one is presented with the knowledge that a piece has been composed for the artist performing on the recording, it can become limiting when attempting one’s own interpretation. However, said recording can also provide valuable insight into the wishes of the composer, and the evolution of the music from paper to sound through the subjective perspective of the performer. I suggest that as modern performers, we need a balance of both absorbing what has come before and affirming what we do now.

Reflecting on the work of Britten and Rostropovich together as colleagues and friends, I aim to study the meaning of this kind of collaboration and its larger implications for ensuing generations of musicians, particularly in how it is expressed through the aural heritage of recordings. I hope that through exploring the collaborative output but more importantly the friendship between Britten and Rostropovich, I am able to shed new light on the impact they made together.