Thomas Quasthoff was born in Germany, in 1959, poisoned by thalidomide. He now stands at just four feet tall, with severely underdeveloped legs and arms — and having fashioned himself one of the great bass baritones of the age. His new memoir is full of spirited humor: His first meeting with the iconic Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich occasions a warm outpouring — of drink and otherwise — from the man: “Choo have to drink these. This is Russian mentahlity.”