Rostropovich was known as Slava (from Mstislav) to his friends, thus the unusual name. His dog "Pooks" is honored in the piece. The name is shouted before the 7/8 section, at the spot where the woodblock solo is heard. Although this was not written in the score, but is common for a conductor to perform the piece with it.
| Date of composition | 1977 |
| Premiered | 1977, October 11th |
| Type | Overture |
| Instruments | Orchestra |
| Autotranslations beta |
Leonard Bernstein: Slava! A Political Overture Leonard Bernstein: Slava! A Political Overture Leonard Bernstein: Slava! A Political Overture |