Watch, or more importantly, listen to what happened when rising classical music star Sheku Kanneh-Mason came to Sotheby’s to meet – and play – three cellos belonging to legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. Sheku, who cites Rostropovich as one of his musical heroes, won the 2016 BBC Young Musician of the Year award and played at the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle earlier this year. The cellos were highlights from the collection of Rostropovich, along with jewellery, furniture and works of art acquired by him and his wife, Galina Vishnevskaya, in our Rostropovich & Vishnevskaya: The Private Collection (28 November | London). The sale realised £4.2 million, led by the masterful 1783 Guadagnini cello which achieved £1.9 million, marking the first time one of the maestro’s personal musical instruments was sold. Watch more videos here.

Past Auction

Rostropovich - Vishnevskaya: The Private Collection

28 November 2018 | 12:00 PM GMT | London