Shostakovich wrote several pieces for Rostropovich, including:

1. Cello Concerto No. 1
2. Cello Concerto No. 2
3. Sonata for Cello and Piano
4. Viola Sonata
5. Seven Romances on Poems by Alexander Blok for Voice and Piano (which Rostropovich often performed on the cello)
6. Symphony No. 14, which features a prominent cello soloist.