Mstislav Rostropovich, the celebrated Russian cellist who led the National Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 1994, has been admitted to a hospital in Moscow, according to reports this morning. He has been coming back to Washington as Music Director Emeritus ever since he stepped down (most recently reviewed by DCist last April). His condition is called “satisfactory,” and he even received a visit from Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday. In fact, the announcement of the musician’s hospitalization actually came from the Kremlin.

While there may not be cause for immediate concern, Rostropovich’s health has been on the decline for several months. He has had an operation and extensive medical treatment not specified in news reports. Other reports claim that Rostropovich was initially hospitalized in Paris last week and then moved back to Moscow. Putin allegedly went to the hospital to discuss the plans to celebrate Rostropovich’s 80th birthday on March 27. Although he had to cancel, on doctors’ orders, the NSO’s much-anticipated Shostakovich Festival this past November, Rostropovich was able to conduct a Shostakovich Festival in Paris that month, to critical acclaim. We wish him a speedy recovery.