LONDON.- At the request of the family of Galina Vishnevskaya, Sotheby's announced today that the Rostropovich-Vishnevskaya Collection has been acquired privately in its entirety and that the new owner, Alisher Usmanov, prominent Russian businessman, intends to bring the Collection to Russia. The Collection was acquired for an undisclosed sum. As a result, the auction, which had been scheduled for the 18th-19th September in London, will not take place.

At the request of Sotheby's, the new owner has agreed that the public exhibition at Sotheby's London Salesrooms will be extended through 19th September. The Collection will be on public exhibition from the 17th through the 19th September, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

In a letter, Mr. Shvydkoi, the Head of the Russian Federal Agency of Culture and Cinematography (Roskultura), said that “for Russian culture and Russia as a whole, all things relating to the name of Mstislav Rostropovich are invaluable.”

Mr. Shvydkoi expressed his gratitude to Mr. Usmanov for purchasing the collection with the intention to bring it to Russia.

Speaking of the sale, the family of Galina Vishnevskaya said: “We are delighted that the Collection is being acquired in its entirety. It is especially meaningful for our family that the new owner will bring it to Russia.”

The Rostropovich-Vishnevskaya Collection is one of the most distinguished collections that Sotheby’s has ever handled and one of the most important collections of Russian Art in private hands. Sotheby’s is delighted that the buyer intends to bring the collection in its entirety to Russia for the benefit of the Russian people. The company is also pleased that now Mstislav Rostropovich and Galina Vishnevskaya will be remembered not just as two of the greatest musicians of their generation, but as art collectors too, and their achievements in this field will be finally recognised.