Historic media coverage of Van Cliburn winning the first Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958. Credit: From "Van Cliburn Concert Pianist" a Sony/BMG documentary by Peter Rosen
I had the honor of seeing Van Cliburn perform the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 live about 7 years ago. He is truly amazing--I was in the fourth row and remember being struck by the fact that he played the entire piece with his eyes closed. Amazing.
Van Cliburn's Music & Legacy will live on long after his death today in TX. Honoring the memory of a great man and magnificent Pianist. Gone but never forgotten!
little tidbit: when the judges asked nikita if they could award first prize to van cliburn, khrushchev asked:"was he the best?" the judges said "yes" and nikita answered:" then give him the damn prize!" and that in 1958, van cliburn 23......
That's actually not true. There was a huge debate about it. I would suggest you go watch Anderson and Roe's interview with author Stuart Isacoff (it's on The Cliburn KRplus channel itself), he describes it in much better detail and accuracy than I do!
Integrity, in this case, musical integrity, always eventually triumphs over the forces of fear and tribalism. I'm not sure if young folks realize what an important event it was when Cliburn played in Moscow. It reminded us all, during times as dangerous as today, that everyday people crave the same thing, no matter what our sometimes misguided leaders try to claim.
Six years after this I sat next to Van at Gala Evening at the Metropolitan Opera. Joan Sutherland and Renata Tebaldi performing LaTraviata and LaBoheme's first acts respectively. Renata and Van were great friends and that night I became a friend of them both. I attended a post performance dinner at the Plaza Hotel hosted by Van for all the stars of the evening. That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship with all of them. Special tickets and dinners with both of them for years.
he's playing the first movement of piano concerto no.1 in Bb minor by Tchaikovsky. you can get the recording from basically....anywhere. its super famous.
Music can change the world because it is a universal language which everybody understands. If children were taught how to play an instrument and they listened to classical music, their values and their behaviour could be better. Thanks for this wonderful video. :-)
You cannot imagine how much Cliborn was adored in Russia at that point. Indeed for regular people there are no frontieres. Coming back to Texas after such a success abroad, to the American audiences which at that point were not that exhuberant, might have been frustrating...
Watch Van Cliburn Windmung Schumann/List and observe the Russian audience gathering in mass to the stage, standing while touching the stage, for a closer enjoyment...
dmcll - You say that "before VC no American came close to winning" but, unless I'm mistaken, this was the 1st year that the Tchaikovsky Competition had been held. However, that shouldn't take anything away from VC's remarkable achievement.
Para hacerme ecos de tus palabras, la musica un instrumento del alma que va mas alla de cualquier frontera e incluso ideologia por mas antagonicas que estas sean.
It is truly a dark day, One of America's greatest musicians is now gone, his name like the competition named after him will endure long after many of today so called "performers" fade from memory.
@dnggitg I've heard that story as well from different sources. To paraphrase, Kruschev asked if VC had been the "best" pianist. The jury people replied that yes he was. Kruschev answered "then award him the prize". If the jury was indeed instructed to give the prize to a Russian initially, I suspect the order came from some anonymous bureaucrat. Before VC, no American had even come close to winning. After his performance, they were probably flabbergasted and uncertain what to do.
@dnggitg And even if the legend about asking for Khrushchev's approval is true, his alleged response is just another proof that Tchaikovsky competition was NOT political in the eyes of the Soviet leadership. Music has no borders. Peace.
I've heard (I'm not a pianist, so correct me if I'm wrong) that politicians WERE judging music. The judges had been instructed to give the prize to a Russian. But because Van Cliburn was the best, they asked Krushchev for permission to give the prize to the American. Krushchev said, "Is he the best?" The judges said, "Yes." Krushchev said, "Then give him the prize."
@elladan0891: I was just repeating a story I'd heard on a classical music station; I wouldn't know whether it's true or apocryphal. But if the jury was instructed to give the prize to a Russian, and if it had to ask Krushchev for permission to give the prize to an American, is it not eminently reasonable to conclude that the competition was at least somewhat political? If the story is true, how can you say that the jury was "very far from politics"?
"...a long, tall Texan". Actually, he was born in Louisiana. But moved to Texas at an early age. So I think we' in the Lone Star State are okay in claiming him as one of our own.
@dnggitg It's kinda funny, but it's Americans who often make this political. The jury was very far from politics: great pianists Richter and Gilels, British composer Sir Arthur Bliss, Russian composers Kabalevsky and Shostakovich. If the sole purpose of the Soviet organizers of the competition were to give the prize to a Soviet musician (as I often hear), that's exactly what would have happened.
I have the Living Stereo SACD remaster of Cliburn's playing this piece. It's actually vaguely unpleasant to listen to other renditions because of the passion with which Cliburn plays and that Tchaikovsky very likely wrote into the piece. Honestly, every other recording that I've heard is, I don't know, unfulfilling? It's interesting to read the history of Piano Concerto No. 1 because Tchaikovsky's own go-to pianist hated it, called it "unplayable" and had a few other choice criticisms for it.
This story is often retold - but what is the actual evidence for it - and its original source? The 5 man jury included the composer Sir Arthur Bliss, and four Russians - composers Shostakovich and Kabalevsky, pianists Richter and Gilels. It seems highly unlikely that Sir Arthur Bliss, KCVO and Master of the Queen's Musick, would have been party to this. Could it just be a good cold war tale?
![[GOING SEVENTEEN] COMEBACK SPECIAL : 음악의 신들의 학교에 마에스트로의 등장이라.. #1 (The Musical Heirs #1)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qppmHwt4nC8/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's My Line? - Van Cliburn; Tom Poston [panel] (Aug 3, 1958) [UPGRADE!]](/img/0.gif)
I had the honor of seeing Van Cliburn perform the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 live about 7 years ago. He is truly amazing--I was in the fourth row and remember being struck by the fact that he played the entire piece with his eyes closed. Amazing.
so sad that he is gone. My mom's favorite and she is gone also. Wonderful musician
Remembering sweet Van Cluburn with love on Birthday Today. July 12..
Van Cliburn's Music & Legacy will live on long after his death today in TX. Honoring the memory of a great man and magnificent Pianist. Gone but never forgotten!
What a great example of building beautiful relations. He did an incredible job for peace.
simply amazing.. outstanding and mental.. its a beautiful work.
We still love him in former Soviet-Union!!!
May Maestro rest in peace...
little tidbit: when the judges asked nikita if they could award first prize to van cliburn, khrushchev asked:"was he the best?" the judges said "yes" and nikita answered:" then give him the damn prize!" and that in 1958, van cliburn 23......
That's actually not true. There was a huge debate about it. I would suggest you go watch Anderson and Roe's interview with author Stuart Isacoff (it's on The Cliburn KRplus channel itself), he describes it in much better detail and accuracy than I do!
I wish to see full concerto No.1 by Vn Cliburn! so so beautiful! thank you for this valued video!
Integrity, in this case, musical integrity, always eventually triumphs over the forces of fear and tribalism. I'm not sure if young folks realize what an important event it was when Cliburn played in Moscow. It reminded us all, during times as dangerous as today, that everyday people crave the same thing, no matter what our sometimes misguided leaders try to claim.
We love you,. too :) Thank you, Kordelivo
Six years after this I sat next to Van at Gala Evening at the Metropolitan Opera. Joan Sutherland and Renata Tebaldi performing LaTraviata and LaBoheme's first acts respectively. Renata and Van were great friends and that night I became a friend of them both. I attended a post performance dinner at the Plaza Hotel hosted by Van for all the stars of the evening. That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship with all of them.
Special tickets and dinners with both of them for years.
That's an awesome video. Music is the universal language :)
he's playing the first movement of piano concerto no.1 in Bb minor by Tchaikovsky. you can get the recording from basically....anywhere. its super famous.
Wow it's the audio quality is better here, I hope they could realese the entire music
Here goes another great Artist.
ohh, so this is really sad to hear,
i just hope, that he will be able to recover...
Van Cliburn is a such great and unique artist.
Both are wonderfully committed in support of Cliburn's performance.
WAY before my time...A LEGEND NEVERTHELESS! Texan too!!
Music can change the world because it is a universal language which everybody understands.
If children were taught how to play an instrument and they listened to classical music, their values and their behaviour could be better.
Thanks for this wonderful video.
:-)
You cannot imagine how much Cliborn was adored in Russia at that point. Indeed for regular people there are no frontieres. Coming back to Texas after such a success abroad, to the American audiences which at that point were not that exhuberant, might have been frustrating...
Watch Van Cliburn Windmung Schumann/List and observe the Russian audience gathering in mass to the stage, standing while touching the stage, for a closer enjoyment...
dmcll - You say that "before VC no American came close to winning" but, unless I'm mistaken, this was the 1st year that the Tchaikovsky Competition had been held. However, that shouldn't take anything away from VC's remarkable achievement.
Yay ! Superb and the conductor -I should know -I am from a Juilliard alumna
ah yes - Van Cliburn saves the world from nuclear annihilation by playing his piano - wish we were all so talented
The conductor is Kirill Kondrashin and the orchestra is the Moscow Philharmonic.
Solo en México ❤️ lo.olvidaron.
...my dad's favorite...
Breathtaking. Could anyone tell me the piece he is playing in this video??? Or where I can get a full recordin?? Thanks in advance.
Para hacerme ecos de tus palabras, la musica un instrumento del alma que va mas alla de cualquier frontera e incluso ideologia por mas antagonicas que estas sean.
It is truly a dark day, One of America's greatest musicians is now gone, his name like the competition named after him will endure long after many of today so called "performers" fade from memory.
Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto no. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
My guess if anywhere would be Bass Hall, Ft Worth.
@dnggitg I've heard that story as well from different sources. To paraphrase, Kruschev asked if VC had been the "best" pianist. The jury people replied that yes he was. Kruschev answered "then award him the prize". If the jury was indeed instructed to give the prize to a Russian initially, I suspect the order came from some anonymous bureaucrat. Before VC, no American had even come close to winning. After his performance, they were probably flabbergasted and uncertain what to do.
What is the name of that song he is playing? I can't remember it for the life of me.
El alma virtuosa se manifiesta bajo la mas aplastante armonia. La belleza de sus manos exaltan a ssu creador.
Is that narrator Sean Connery?
I`m dying of envy...I would give anything to be on your shoes those days...
@dnggitg
And even if the legend about asking for Khrushchev's approval is true, his alleged response is just another proof that Tchaikovsky competition was NOT political in the eyes of the Soviet leadership.
Music has no borders. Peace.
His humility was as deep as his genius was grand... An incredible human being and touching soul.
@mb7668 Yep. The rest as they say, is history...:)
i want flowers lol XD
I've heard (I'm not a pianist, so correct me if I'm wrong) that politicians WERE judging music. The judges had been instructed to give the prize to a Russian. But because Van Cliburn was the best, they asked Krushchev for permission to give the prize to the American. Krushchev said, "Is he the best?" The judges said, "Yes." Krushchev said, "Then give him the prize."
Musicians judged, but everything was subject to review from the Communist officials.
@elladan0891: I was just repeating a story I'd heard on a classical music station; I wouldn't know whether it's true or apocryphal. But if the jury was instructed to give the prize to a Russian, and if it had to ask Krushchev for permission to give the prize to an American, is it not eminently reasonable to conclude that the competition was at least somewhat political? If the story is true, how can you say that the jury was "very far from politics"?
"...a long, tall Texan". Actually, he was born in Louisiana. But moved to Texas at an early age. So I think we' in the Lone Star State are okay in claiming him as one of our own.
@dnggitg
It's kinda funny, but it's Americans who often make this political.
The jury was very far from politics: great pianists Richter and Gilels, British composer Sir Arthur Bliss, Russian composers Kabalevsky and Shostakovich.
If the sole purpose of the Soviet organizers of the competition were to give the prize to a Soviet musician (as I often hear), that's exactly what would have happened.
@htews That's Dan Rather.
I have the Living Stereo SACD remaster of Cliburn's playing this piece. It's actually vaguely unpleasant to listen to other renditions because of the passion with which Cliburn plays and that Tchaikovsky very likely wrote into the piece. Honestly, every other recording that I've heard is, I don't know, unfulfilling? It's interesting to read the history of Piano Concerto No. 1 because Tchaikovsky's own go-to pianist hated it, called it "unplayable" and had a few other choice criticisms for it.
This story is often retold - but what is the actual evidence for it - and its original source? The 5 man jury included the composer Sir Arthur Bliss, and four Russians - composers Shostakovich and Kabalevsky, pianists Richter and Gilels. It seems highly unlikely that Sir Arthur Bliss, KCVO and Master of the Queen's Musick, would have been party to this. Could it just be a good cold war tale?
sounds like him dont it.
You didn`t merry him, isn`t...hope no regret...
He won because of the hair.
You better get a better picture then. I visited your channel and you pale in comparison ;)
A gay piano virtuoso and gay genius composer. Extraordinaire.