Slava
Uncategorized - - Posted on April, 28 at 9:07 pm by Ken L
Somehow I always thought my heroes would live forever. Or at least until after I’d gone into a nursing home and started to abuse the bitch who wanted me to eat my porridge. It’s not turning out that way unfortunately. It wouldn’t be so bad if more heroes were coming up to replace them but ours doesn’t seem to be a heroic age, unfortunately.
Anyway one more bit the dust today. Russian dude called Mstislav Rostropovich. Slava for short. He was only 80, dammit, I thought he would have been good for another 10 years at least.
Slava played the cello. He also spoke out against the evils of the Communist USSR, got exiled for his pains, established a charitable foundation that funds vaccinations for Russian kids, championed some of the 20th century’s most amazing new music, became an unpredictable but sometimes inspiring conductor, recognised and nurtured talent amongst young artists wherever he was in the world and returned to Russia post-Gorbachov because he loved his own country unconditionally. He was a towering figure in classical music, inspiring love and respect and expressing everything that is good and admirable about Mother Russia.
Oh yeah, he also cared deeply about human rights and constantly argued that individual human beings had an intrinsic value that transcended political ideologies. What a loser, eh. I bet he didn’t even own a plasma television.
Who will be the heroes of today’s maturing generation? Mel Gibson? Bono? Well maybe I’m just getting old.
Posted in Uncategorized |
April 28th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
That’s truly sad news. Rostropovich was one of the greatest ever cellists. He’ll be sorely missed.
April 29th, 2007 at 5:39 am
I never knew him.
but i hope he flies so high
i’m not even sure why
that’s just the way
it oughta be
be free
i looked to the trees, my borderline
and they said
“fly”
“can i take this old man w/ me?”
they looked away
so i snuck him in…
we hit the clouds before they stirred
wasn’t long before he became my friend
of all time
take a chance
N’
April 29th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
maybe you will be Ken
April 29th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
“Into the distance disappear the mounds of human heads.
I dwindle - go unnoticed now.
But in affectionate books, in childrens’ games,
I will rise from the dead to say: the sun!”
Osip Mandelstam, shortly before he vanished from our sight, and most likely to his death in the Gulag Archipelago, 1937. I imagine he and Slava would have got along famously.
None of us getting younger, Ken - but I reckon if Bono was ever a hero, it’s to a generation already well and truly mature.
Unrelated, and mean-spirited of me to boot, but if I ever have to read another op-ed from Richard Neville or his ilk about how his generation was the last to care about anything then I swear I am going to stab someone in the eye.
April 29th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Perhaps the fact that he didn’t own a plasma is more important than you think, Ken.
No offence, but you might need to take his lead, mate. If the only choices you think you’ve got are Mel Gibson / Bono and the like, you’re either not looking in the right places, or you’re not looking hard enough.
The world is full of sh-tty places (just like Communist USSR back in Slava’s day)… Pick one and I can guarantee you - you’ll find principled, selfless, courageous people doing their best to change them.
If you can’t find a hero in some of these people, you might need to re-evaluate a few things.
April 29th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Nope…not for me. I think of David Suzuki, Ralph Nader, Cindy Sheehan, Dennis Kucinich…those who cop alot of crap by speaking against the trend…not so much heroes but courageous for taking on &/or educating the War-mongers & Corporate Elite. I’d include all those bloggers, writers, doco makers, commentators & protestors who stood up to this latest incarnation of Western Neo-Fascism & Totalitarianism… when few were listening, the consequences more harming & much of the World slumbered in ignorance & complacency.
And all those individuals who put their lives on the line to assist the welfare of the dispossessed, the injured & the traumatised in these conflict zones.
Bono invests in some crappy companies & makes a heap for his efforts by way of the PR blitz. Mel is just plain inconsistent & over the top in his approach. I can imagine they’re not your heroes Ken…:)
May 1st, 2007 at 3:39 pm
[...] Lovett shares his sorrow at the passing of Mstislav Rostropovich, and wonders Who will be the heroes of today’s maturing [...]