CELLIST ROSTROPOVICH RECOVERING IN HOSPITAL

Russian cellist/composer MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH is being treated in hospital in Moscow after being struck down with a mystery illness during a visit to Paris, France last week (ends04FEB07). Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN was a visitor to the internationally acclaimed musician's bedside yesterday (06FEB07) - and Rostropovich's representatives seem divided over the graveness of his condition. Spokeswoman NATALIA DOLLEZHAL insists Rostropovich is recovering, saying, "He has gotten a bit sick but he will be OK." But Rostropovich's manager of 35 years RONALD WILFORD says, "It does not look good." Rostropovich , who turns 80 next month (MAR07), was exiled from the Soviet Union in 1974 after he was discovered to be hiding dissident writer ALEXANDER SOLZHENITSYN.