[Rostropovich 1978.jpg|210px|thumb|Mstislav Rostropovich playing the [[Duport Stradivarius] at the White House in 1978.]]
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich KBE (, Mstislav Leopol'dovič Rostropovič, ) (March 27, 1927 – April 27, 2007), known to close friends as “Slava,” was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century, and is considered by some of his peers to have been the greatest cellist of all time. In addition to his outstanding interpretations and technique, he was well-known for his commissions of new works which enlarged the cello repertoire more than any cellist before or since. He gave the premieres of over 100 pieces.

He was also internationally recognised as a staunch advocate of human rights, being awarded in 1974 the Annual Award of the International League of Human Rights.