Van Cliburn: Lanky Texan Shocked Soviets and the World with Competition Win — Dies at 78

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You may remember the era – Sputnik 1 launched in October 1957; the Russians were ahead in space. And they felt the time was right to prove their superiority culturally as well. So, they announced a competition for classical piano and violin in Moscow.

The recordings from the day tell the tale. Van Cliburn was able to play this Russian music with all the soul of a native, and all the brash confidence of a Texan. The result, aside from politics, was obvious.

But, as the story goes, a hurried call was made to Premier Nikita Khrushchev asking whether he would countenance the prize being given to the Texan. “Is he the best?,” Khrushchev supposedly said. The answer being “yes” the premier gave his blessing, and even embraced Van Cliburn for all the world to see.

Flash forward to September, 2012. A frail, cancer-riddled Van Cliburn is just offstage at Bass Hall in Fort Worth.  He wants to say goodbye to the local music-lovers who have buoyed him through his recent illness, and to whom he has given so much. Not wanting their last view of him to be someone tethered to an oxygen tank, he temporarily removes his oxygen, and walks 10 steps to the podium, where he says a tender farewell.

#classicalmusic #piano #SovietUnion #VanCliburn