American pianist Van Cliburn, whose 1958 triumph at a Moscow competition impressed world, dies

[Faygo Kid]

Source: Washington Post

FORT WORTH, Texas — The renowned American classical pianist Van Cliburn has died. He was 78.

His publicist and longtime friend Mary Lou Falcone told The Associated Press that Cliburn died Wednesday morning after suffering from bone cancer.

She’d announced in late August that Cliburn had been diagnosed with advanced cancer and was being cared for at his home in Fort Worth.

Cliburn’s triumph at a Moscow competition in 1958 helped thaw the Cold War and launched a spectacular international career. . .

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/american-pianist-van-cliburn-whose-1958-triumph-at-a-moscow-competition-impressed-world-dies/2013/02/27/8d8a1dec-8100-11e2-a671-0307392de8de_story.html?hpid=z1

[sinkingfeeling]

1. He was a wonderful pianist. RIP.

[pinto]

2. (Cliburn)Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 Mvt III

[erronis]

25. Thanks for posting this

I think the last time I heard Van Cliburn was from some very old LPs of my parents. Time to refresh my digital library!

RIP and in glory.

[antigop]

3. RIP to an outstanding musician. nt

[Hekate]

4. RIP and join the music of the spheres...

Thanks for all the music here on Earth.

[Mopar151]

5. He brought joy to so many

St Peter better find a Stienway pronto, and a spot for it right by the pearly gates.

[Paladin]

6. Strange, I Was Listening To Cliburn's "My Favorite Chopin" Just Yesterday.

One of the true greats. RIP.

[Dryvinwhileblind]

7. A virtuoso...Godspeed, kind Sir.

[DreamGypsy]

8. The Texan Who Conquered Russia...

[monmouth3]

13. Notice the young ladies looking so adoringly at him by the lower stage. We thought he was "hawt"

We were used to older more stuffy virtuosos at that time. Van Cliburn was the Sinatra of the "nerdy" set and I say that with great pride. RIP dear sir, you left us with so much..

[DreamGypsy]

15. That was 1958.

Johnny B. Goode, Summertime Blues, Sweet Little Sixteen, La Bamba, Rave On, Chantilly Lace, All I Have To Do Is Dream, Fever, To Know Him Is To Love Him...

Van Cliburn was a rock star who just happened to play Classical Music. His fans adored him as much fans adored Elvis.

A good time to be growing up.

[monmouth3]

16. It was, I graduated high school in '58. Such innocence back then..

[asjr]

9. I remember his debut very well! Anyone who heard his gift

will always remember him.

[stopbush]

10. I heard him play live only once - it was unbelieveable.

His RCA recordings really don't capture the magic that his playing had in a hall. Very effective, and unique.

[Le Taz Hot]

11. One of the greatest

pianists of the 20th Century. A great loss.

[jsr]

12. Great talent. R.I.P.

[classof56]

14. Oh, this is sad news. I was one of his biggest fans, back in the day.

He brought many hours of joy to my young life as I listened to his music and through the years since. What an amazing gift he brought to the world.

Blessings, Van, and thank you. You are worthy of our tears!

[PCIntern]

17. I have been made to understand from my elderly, retired Phila. Orchestra patients

that he was the nicest guy. Once, when they went down to Dallas to play a concert, he met them backstage and accompanied them on the bus back to their hotel. Everyone in the Orchestra personally liked him a lot and in those days that was unheard of.

[burrowowl]

18. RIP! He was a real Virtuoso!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

19. I remember seeing him on network TV when I was a kid

on such shows as the Steve Allen Show, Mike Douglas, and Ed Sullivan, back in the day when TV actually exposed the average American to classical music and you could actually hear jazz on AM radio.

RIP to an American hero.

[RILib]

21. that remark about tv

reminds me of when Leonard Bernstein had a series on television. No vast wasteland in that vicinity.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

24. Absolutely - I remember those prime time TV shows featuring classical music

and while he was as much a showman and comedian as a serious musician, I remember the Liberace Show which I watched as a kid where he always played a piece by Lizst or Chopin, dressed in an outrageous costume.

[RILib]

20. I remember when he won

everyone went crazy, and deservedly so.

[Ishoutandscream2]

22. Another great Texan

We have a lot of good ones, too. You wouldn't know that by coming to DU, though.

[Sancho]

23. After listening to recordings my whole life, I heard him perform the T. 1st in 2006...

He played with the Florida Orchestra in St. Petersburg. It was amazing...even in his 70's he had such power and technique that you could close your eyes and imagine someone in their prime.

RIP

[Lithos]

26. I used to do technical theatre in Ft. Worth

As one of the treats, I worked a few special fundraisers for the Ft. Worth Community Theatre. One time they got Helen Hayes and her son James MacArthur to reminisce. Great show, but it also was Mrs. Hayes' birthday, so as a special surprise someone got Van Cliburn to come out and perform Happy Birthday to her.

Did get to spend a few minutes with him in the Green Room prior to the performance. Very shy and quiet man. Very considerate and very nice. Also got to hear him warm up before hand and he went thru a few classical riffs. Exercises to him, small vignettes of bliss for me.

Truly one of those Zen moments in life.

RIP in Mr. Cliburn.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

27. The Cliburn: 50 Years of Gold

The Cliburn: 50 Years of Gold

I saw the show on PBS a few weeks back. It's worth your time.

Every four years, a group of the finest young pianists takes the stage at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. In the midst of the drama, the beauty, the nerves and the excitement, they know one thing is true — what happens there can change their lives. They strive to feel the joy of victory and achieve their utmost goal: to become a performer on the world stage.

[Tx4obama]

28. Kick... n/t

[Beacool]

29. He was a great virtuoso.

He was a wonderful pianist and will be remembered for years to come. May he rest in peace.

[zonkers]

30. Fascninating (and short!)read on Cliburn from NYer archives. "To search and search and never find"

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/backissues/2013/02/glimpses-of-van-cliburn.html


excerpts...

we pressed Cliburn to tell us how, in an era of unrelenting publicity and no privacy, he managed to keep himself on the third road. “Divine indifference,” he said, polishing off the last of his soup with relish. “Swami Vivekananda says it is divine indifference that urges men to quality for building an ideal. The Buddhist says ‘Neti! Neti!’—‘Not this! Not that!’ I suppose one could call it unconcern. Prestige or simple recognition is often mistaken for success. Nothing could be further from the truth. For me, the greatest possible success would be to be utterly alone without feeling the need to talk to anyone. You can achieve this only when you achieve control over a fixed idea.”

also... (paraphrased) Performing in Moscow a few years after he rose to fame... the audience demanded an encore, so he sent his mother out to play and she wowed the crowd. FYI, she was the one who taught him to play the piano.

[tilsammans]

31. I remember his ticker-tape parade in NYC

Phenomenal video clip of Van Cliburn performing Rachmaninoff:
http://bit.ly/WkVy0q


He gave us so much. R.I.P., Van Cliburn.

[BeyondGeography]

32. RIP and thank you for the beautiful music, Mr. Cliburn

&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[magical thyme]

33. I heard him play live once

and backstage after to get my program autographed, also got one of his bear hugs. Very, very tall and handsome. I was beside myself throughout...