Cliburn skyrocketed to fame after winning the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at age 23, and was the first classical musician to be celebrated with a ticker tape parade.
Angela K. Brown
Associated Press
via MSM
2/27/2013
FORT WORTH, Texas — Van Cliburn, the internationally celebrated pianist whose triumph at a 1958 Moscow competition helped thaw the Cold War and launched a spectacular career that made him the rare classical musician to enjoy rock-star status, has died. He was 78.
Cliburn died early Wednesday at his Fort Worth home surrounded by loved ones following a battle with bone cancer, said his publicist and longtime friend Mary Lou Falcone.
Cliburn made what would be his last public appearance in September at the 50th anniversary of the prestigious piano competition named for him. Speaking to the audience in Fort Worth, he saluted the many past contestants, the orchestra and the city.
“Never forget: I love you all from the bottom of my heart, forever,” he said to a roaring standing ovation.
Cliburn skyrocketed to fame when he won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at age 23 in 1958, six months after the Soviets’ launch of Sputnik embarrassed the U.S. and propelled the world into the space age. He triumphantly returned to a New York City ticker tape parade — the first ever for a classical musician — and a Time magazine cover proclaimed him “The Texan Who Conquered Russia.”
But the win also proved the power of the arts, bringing unity in the midst of strong rivalry. Despite the tension between the nations, Cliburn became a hero to music-loving Soviets who clamored to see him perform, and Premier Nikita Khrushchev reportedly gave the go-ahead for the judges to honor a foreigner: “Is Cliburn the best? Then give him first prize.”…
The article continues at MSM.com
Related: Van Cliburn plays Rachmaninov’s 3rd Concerto in Moscow, 1958 (video 1/5)
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The other videos from the concerts are on YouTube.
Here is the pianist on the popular television program of the 1950s and 60s, “What’s My Line?”
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