NATION : Exiled Conductor Rostropovich Taking Symphony to Soviet Union

Soviet-born conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, praising new artistic freedom in his homeland, announced today he will take the National Symphony Orchestra on a concert tour of the Soviet Union next February.

Rostropovich will lead the 103-member orchestra in two concerts in Moscow and two in Leningrad, he told a news conference at the Kennedy Center, which is the orchestra’s home. It will be his first official visit to the Soviet Union since he was exiled 15 years ago.

Soviet Ambassador Yuri Dubinin hinted to reporters that the tour could be the next step in restoring Soviet citizenship, which was stripped from Rostropovich in 1978. Dubinin and the conductor embraced with tears in their eyes after the news conference.

“Let’s hope the time will come when all juridical decisions will be taken according to the wishes of Maestro Rostropovich,” Dubinin said.

Rostropovich said that “for artistic freedom, there has been enormous change” in his homeland under Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev. He said he was “very excited and very nervous about making the trip.”