Van Cliburn: Difference between revisions
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{{About||the international piano competition|Van Cliburn International Piano Competition|the foundation|Van Cliburn Foundation}} |
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[[File:Van Cliburn.jpg|thumb|Van Cliburn, Jr.]] |
[[File:Van Cliburn.jpg|thumb|Van Cliburn, Jr.]] |
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⚫ | '''Harvey Lavan''' "'''Van'''" '''Cliburn, Jr.''' ({{IPAc-en|icon|ˈ|k|l|aɪ|b|ɜr|n}}; July 12, 1934 – February 27, 2013), was an [[United States|American]] [[pianist]] who achieved worldwide recognition in 1958 at the age of twenty-three, when he won the first quadrennial [[International Tchaikovsky Competition|International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition]] in [[Moscow]], at the height of the [[Cold War]].<ref name="WSJ death"/><ref name="WaPo death"/> |
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==Biography== |
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===Early life=== |
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⚫ | Van Cliburn was born in [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], and began taking piano lessons at the age of three from his mother, the former Rildia Bee O'Bryan, who, in turn, had been instructed by [[Arthur Friedheim]],<ref>[http://www.arbiterrecords.com/musicresourcecenter/friedheim.html Arthur FRIEDHEIM<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> a pupil of [[Franz Liszt]].<ref name="WSJ death"/> At six years old, Cliburn moved with his family to [[Kilgore, Texas]], and at twelve he won a statewide piano competition which enabled him to debut with the [[Houston Symphony Orchestra]].<ref name=who/> He entered the [[Juilliard School]] at the age of seventeen,<ref name=who/> and studied under [[Rosina Lhévinne]],<ref name=who>Marquis ''Who's Who''</ref> who trained him in the tradition of the great Russian [[romanticism (music)|romantics]]. At twenty, Cliburn won the [[Leventritt Competition|Leventritt Award]],<ref name=who/> and made his [[Carnegie Hall]] debut. |
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===Moscow=== |
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⚫ | '''Harvey Lavan''' "'''Van'''" '''Cliburn, Jr.''' ( |
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⚫ | It was his recognition in Moscow that propelled Cliburn to international fame.<ref name="AP death"/> The first [[International Tchaikovsky Competition]] in 1958 was an event designed to demonstrate Soviet cultural superiority during the [[Cold War]], on the heels of their technological victory with the [[Sputnik]] launch in October 1957. Cliburn's performance at the competition finale of [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]]'s [[Piano Concerto No. 1 (Tchaikovsky)|Piano Concerto No. 1]] and [[Sergei Rachmaninoff|Rachmaninoff]]'s [[Piano Concerto No. 3 (Rachmaninoff)|Piano Concerto No. 3]] earned him a standing ovation lasting eight minutes.<ref name="WaPo death">{{cite news|title=Van Cliburn, celebrated classical pianist, dies at 78|first=Tim|last=Page|publisher=Washington Post|date=27 February 2013|accessdate=27 February 2013|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/van-cliburn-celebrated-classical-pianist-dies-at-78/2013/02/27/beb517ac-3636-11e1-afdf-67906fc95149_story.html}}</ref> When it was time to announce a winner, the judges were obliged to ask permission of the Soviet leader [[Nikita Khrushchev]] to give first prize to an American. "Is he the best?" Khrushchev asked. "Then give him the prize!"<ref name="WaPo death"/> Cliburn returned home to a [[ticker-tape parade]] in [[New York City]], the only time the honor has been accorded a classical musician. His cover story in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' proclaimed him "The Texan Who Conquered Russia."<ref>"Show Business: Van's Big Year" (Oct. 06, 1958) ''Time''</ref> |
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==Career== |
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{{refimprove section|date=April 2011}} |
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⚫ | Van Cliburn was born in [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], and began taking piano lessons at the age of three from his mother, the former Rildia Bee O'Bryan, who |
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⚫ | It was his recognition in Moscow that propelled Cliburn to international fame. The first [[International Tchaikovsky Competition]] in 1958 was an event designed to demonstrate Soviet cultural superiority during the [[Cold War]], on the heels of their technological victory with the [[Sputnik]] launch in October 1957. Cliburn's performance at the competition finale of [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]]'s [[Piano Concerto No. 1 (Tchaikovsky)|Piano Concerto No. 1]] and [[Sergei Rachmaninoff|Rachmaninoff]]'s [[Piano Concerto No. 3 (Rachmaninoff)|Piano Concerto No. 3]] earned him a standing ovation lasting eight minutes. When it was time to announce a winner, the judges were obliged to ask permission of the Soviet leader [[Nikita Khrushchev]] to give first prize to an American. "Is he the best?" Khrushchev asked. "Then give him the prize!" Cliburn returned home to a [[ticker-tape parade]] in [[New York City]], the only time the honor has been accorded a classical musician. His cover story in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' proclaimed him "The Texan Who Conquered Russia."<ref>"Show Business: Van's Big Year" (Oct. 06, 1958) ''Time''</ref> |
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===Success=== |
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Upon returning to the United States, Cliburn appeared in a Carnegie Hall concert with the [[Symphony of the Air]], conducted by [[Kirill Kondrashin]], who had led the [[Moscow Philharmonic]] in the prize-winning performances in Moscow.<ref name=who/> The performance of the Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto at this concert was subsequently released by [[RCA Victor]] on both LP and CD. Cliburn was also invited by [[Steve Allen]] to play a solo during Allen's prime time [[NBC]] television program on April 14, 1958.<ref>{{cite web |accessdate=2011-12-07 |url=http://www.440int.com/twtd/archives/apr14.html |
Upon returning to the United States, Cliburn appeared in a Carnegie Hall concert with the [[Symphony of the Air]], conducted by [[Kirill Kondrashin]], who had led the [[Moscow Philharmonic]] in the prize-winning performances in Moscow.<ref name=who/> The performance of the Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto at this concert was subsequently released by [[RCA Victor]] on both LP and CD. Cliburn was also invited by [[Steve Allen]] to play a solo during Allen's prime time [[NBC]] television program on April 14, 1958.<ref>{{cite web |accessdate=2011-12-07 |url=http://www.440int.com/twtd/archives/apr14.html |
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|title=Those Were the Days: Archives April 14 |
|title=Those Were the Days: Archives April 14 |
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|publisher=Van Cliburn Foundation |year=}}</ref> It was the best-selling classical album in the world for more than a decade, eventually going triple-platinum. Cliburn won the 1958 [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra)|Best Classical Performance]] for this recording. In 2004, this recording was re-mastered from the original studio analogue tapes, and released in the highest quality ever on high-resolution [[Super Audio CD]]. |
|publisher=Van Cliburn Foundation |year=}}</ref> It was the best-selling classical album in the world for more than a decade, eventually going triple-platinum. Cliburn won the 1958 [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra)|Best Classical Performance]] for this recording. In 2004, this recording was re-mastered from the original studio analogue tapes, and released in the highest quality ever on high-resolution [[Super Audio CD]]. |
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Other famous concerti Cliburn |
Other famous concerti Cliburn recorded include the [[Robert Schumann|Schumann]] [[Piano Concerto (Schumann)|Piano Concerto in A minor]], [[Edvard Grieg|Grieg]] [[Piano Concerto (Grieg)|Piano Concerto in A minor]], [[Sergei Rachmaninoff|Rachmaninoff]] [[Piano Concerto No. 2 (Rachmaninoff)|Piano Concerto No. 2]], [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]] [[Piano Concerto No. 4 (Beethoven)|Piano Concerto No. 4]] and [[Piano Concerto No. 5 (Beethoven)|No. 5 "Emperor"]], and the [[Sergei Prokofiev|Prokofiev]] [[Piano Concerto No. 3 (Prokofiev)|Piano Concerto No. 3]]. |
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In 1958, during a dinner hosted by the National Guild of Piano Teachers,<ref>[http://pianoguild.com/ National Guild of Piano Teachers]</ref> President and Founder Dr. Irl Allison announced a cash prize of $10,000 to be used for a piano competition named in Van Cliburn’s honor. Under the leadership of Grace Ward Lankford and with the dedicated efforts of local music teachers and volunteers, the First [[Van Cliburn International Piano Competition]] was held September 24-October 7, 1962 at [[Texas Christian University]] in [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]].<ref name=who/> |
In 1958, during a dinner hosted by the National Guild of Piano Teachers,<ref>[http://pianoguild.com/ National Guild of Piano Teachers]</ref> President and Founder Dr. Irl Allison announced a cash prize of $10,000 to be used for a piano competition named in Van Cliburn’s honor. Under the leadership of Grace Ward Lankford and with the dedicated efforts of local music teachers and volunteers, the First [[Van Cliburn International Piano Competition]] was held September 24-October 7, 1962 at [[Texas Christian University]] in [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]].<ref name=who/> Until his death, Cliburn continued to serve as Director Emeritus for the [[Van Cliburn Foundation]], as host of the quadrennial competition and host of other programs honoring his legacy. |
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Cliburn returned to the Soviet Union on several occasions.<ref name=who/> His performances were usually recorded and even televised. A videotape of his 1958 performance of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 with Kirill Kondrashin and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra documents that Premier Khrushchev was in the audience, joining in the enthusiastic applause.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00143XE46 Van Cliburn in Moscow, Vol. 1 (1962)]</ref> A 1972 concert performance of the [[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]] [[Piano Concerto No. 2 (Brahms)|Piano Concerto No. 2]] with Kondrashin and the Moscow orchestra, as well as a studio recording of Rachmaninoff's ''[[Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini]]'', were later issued on CD by RCA Victor.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000003FR6 Van Cliburn in Moscow - Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Rachmaninoff: Paganini Rhapsody]</ref> |
Cliburn returned to the Soviet Union on several occasions.<ref name=who/> His performances were usually recorded and even televised. According to the ''Wall Street Journal'', "Mr. Cliburn's affection for the Soviet people—and theirs for him—was notable in its warmth during a prolonged period of superpower strain."<ref name="WSJ death"/> A videotape of his 1958 performance of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 with Kirill Kondrashin and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra documents that Premier Khrushchev was in the audience, joining in the enthusiastic applause.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00143XE46 Van Cliburn in Moscow, Vol. 1 (1962)]</ref> A 1972 concert performance of the [[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]] [[Piano Concerto No. 2 (Brahms)|Piano Concerto No. 2]] with Kondrashin and the Moscow orchestra, as well as a studio recording of Rachmaninoff's ''[[Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini]]'', were later issued on CD by RCA Victor.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000003FR6 Van Cliburn in Moscow - Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Rachmaninoff: Paganini Rhapsody]</ref> |
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On May 26, 1972, Cliburn gave a concert at [[Spaso House]], the residence of the [[United States Ambassador to Russia]], for an audience which included President [[Richard M. Nixon]], Secretary of State [[William P. Rogers]], and Soviet government officials. |
On May 26, 1972, Cliburn gave a concert at [[Spaso House]], the residence of the [[United States Ambassador to Russia]], for an audience which included President [[Richard M. Nixon]], Secretary of State [[William P. Rogers]], and Soviet government officials. |
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===Comeback=== |
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Cliburn performed and recorded through the 1970s, but in 1978, after the deaths of his father and manager, began a hiatus from public life. In 1987, he was invited to perform at the [[White House]] for President [[Ronald Reagan]] and Soviet president [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], and afterward was invited to open the 100th anniversary season of [[Carnegie Hall]]. |
Cliburn performed and recorded through the 1970s, but in 1978, after the deaths of his father and manager, began a hiatus from public life. In 1987, he was invited to perform at the [[White House]] for President [[Ronald Reagan]] and Soviet president [[Mikhail Gorbachev]],<ref name="WSJ death"/> and afterward was invited to open the 100th anniversary season of [[Carnegie Hall]]. He embarked on a 16-city tour in 1994, commencing with a performance of the Tchaikovsky concerto at the Hollywood Bowl. Also in 1994, Cliburn made a guest appearance in the cartoon [[Iron Man (TV series)|''Iron Man'']], playing himself in the episode "Silence My Companion, Death My Destination". In his late seventies he gave a limited number of performances to critical and popular acclaim. Cliburn appeared as a ''Pennington Great Performers'' series artist with the [[Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra]] in 2006. He played for royalty and heads of state from dozens of countries, and for every [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] from [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] to [[Barack Obama]].<ref name="McClatchy">[http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/03/02/109719/pianists-van-cliburn-honored-with.html "Pianist Van Cliburn honored with the National Medal of Arts" (March 2, 2011) [[The McClatchy Company]]]</ref> |
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He |
He began every concert with ''[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]''. |
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==Honors== |
==Honors== |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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In 1998, Cliburn was named in a lawsuit by his alleged [[domestic partner]] of seventeen years, [[mortician]] Thomas Zaremba.<ref name="glbtq">{{cite news |first=Linda |last=Rapp |title=Cliburn, Van |url=http://www.glbtq.com/arts/cliburn_v.html |work=glbtq.com |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref> In the suit, Zaremba claimed entitlement to a portion of Cliburn's income and assets and went on to charge that he might have been exposed to [[HIV]], claiming emotional distress. |
In 1998, Cliburn was named in a lawsuit by his alleged [[domestic partner]] of seventeen years, [[mortician]] Thomas Zaremba.<ref name="glbtq">{{cite news |first=Linda |last=Rapp |title=Cliburn, Van |url=http://www.glbtq.com/arts/cliburn_v.html |work=glbtq.com |accessdate=2008-03-01 }}</ref> In the suit, Zaremba claimed entitlement to a portion of Cliburn's income and assets and went on to charge that he might have been exposed to [[HIV]], claiming emotional distress. The claims were denied by a trial court and affirmed by an appellate court, which held that [[palimony]] suits are not permitted in the state of Texas unless the relationship is based on a [[Cohabitation agreement|written agreement]]. |
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Cliburn |
Cliburn was known as a [[Night owl (person)|night owl]]. He often practiced until 4:30 or 5 a.m., waking around 1:30 p.m.<ref name="rogers">{{cite news |first=Mary |last=Rogers |title=A Midnight Conversation with Van Cliburn |url=http://www.maryrussellrogers.com/sites/default/files/images/A_midnight_conversation_with_Van_Cliburn.pdf |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |date=May 18, 1997 |accessdate=2009-08-18 }}</ref> "You feel like you're alone and the world's asleep, and it's very inspiring."<ref name="NPR">{{cite interview | subject=Van Cliburn | interviewer=[[Scott Simon]] | type= | url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87771963 | format=Audio | program=''[[Weekend Edition Saturday]]'' | callsign=[[National Public Radio]] | city=Ft Worth / New York| date=1 March 2008 | accessdate=2008-03-01}}</ref> |
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Cliburn, a [[Baptist]], |
Cliburn, a [[Baptist]], attended church every week.<ref>[http://www.glbtq.com/arts/cliburn_v,2.html "Cliburn, Van (b. 1934)" glbtq]</ref> |
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===Death and legacy=== |
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On |
On August 27, 2012, Van Cliburn's publicist announced that the pianist had advanced bone cancer. He underwent treatment and was “resting comfortably at home” in [[Fort Worth, Texas]], where he received around-the-clock care.<ref name="WashPost">{{cite news |title=Publicist: Renowned pianist Van Cliburn has advanced bone cancer, resting at Texas home |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/publicist-renowned-pianist-van-cliburn-has-advanced-bone-cancer-resting-at-texas-home/2012/08/27/0a7f1d5e-f0b8-11e1-b74c-84ed55e0300b_story.html |work=washingtonpost.com |accessdate=2012-08-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=WAKIN|first=Daniel|title=Van Cliburn Has Advanced Bone Cancer|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/27/van-cliburn-has-advanced-bone-cancer/|accessdate=28 August 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 27, 2012,}}</ref> Cliburn died on February 27, 2013.<ref>[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 "American pianist Van Cliburn, whose 1958 triumph at a Moscow competition impressed world, dies".] The Washingon Post, February 27, 2013.</ref> |
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The ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' commented on his death that Cliburn was a "cultural hero" who "rocketed to unheard-of stardom for a classical musician in the U.S."<ref name="WSJ death">Famed Pianist Van Cliburn Dies |
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By JENNIFER MALONEY |
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''Wall Street Journal'' on line |
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February 27, 2013, 12:21 p.m. ET |
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443864204577621492136875530.html</ref> Cliburn became the first classical musician to have an album sell one million copies with his ''Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1'' recording of 1958.<ref name="WSJ death"/> Calling him "the rare classical musician to enjoy rock star status", the Associated Press on his death noted the 1958 ''Time Magazine'' cover story that likened him to "[[Vladimir Horowitz|Horowitz]], [[Liberace]] and [[Elvis Presley|Presley]] all rolled into one."<ref name="AP death">Van Cliburn dies; American classical pianist was 78 |
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Published February 27, 2013 |
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Associated Press |
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http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/02/27/van-cliburn-deadl-american-classical-pianist-was-78/#ixzz2M7pEKyca</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist |
{{reflist}} |
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{{refend}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*{{IMDb name|0166563}} |
*{{IMDb name|0166563}} |
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*{{Worldcat id|lccn-n81-132090}} |
*{{Worldcat id|lccn-n81-132090}} |
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{{Kennedy Center Honorees 2000s}} |
{{Kennedy Center Honorees 2000s}} |
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] |
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> |
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| NAME = Cliburn, |
| NAME = Cliburn, Harvey Lavan, Jr. |
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| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =Van Cliburn |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Van Cliburn |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American pianist |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = |
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1934-07-12 |
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = |
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Shreveport, Louisiana, United States |
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| DATE OF DEATH = |
| DATE OF DEATH = 2013-02-27 |
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| PLACE OF DEATH = |
| PLACE OF DEATH = Fort Worth, Texas, United States |
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}} |
}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cliburn, Van}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cliburn, Van}} |
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[[Category:Prize-winners of the International Tchaikovsky Competition]] |
[[Category:Prize-winners of the International Tchaikovsky Competition]] |
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[[Category:1934 births]] |
[[Category:1934 births]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:2013 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Honorary Members of the Royal Academy of Music]] |
[[Category:Honorary Members of the Royal Academy of Music]] |
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[[Category:United States National Medal of Arts recipients]] |
[[Category:United States National Medal of Arts recipients]] |
Revision as of 18:55, 27 February 2013
This article is currently being heavily edited because its subject has recently died. Information about their death and related events may change significantly and initial news reports may be unreliable. The most recent updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Van_Cliburn.jpg/220px-Van_Cliburn.jpg)
Harvey Lavan "Van" Cliburn, Jr. (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˈklaɪbɜːrn/; July 12, 1934 – February 27, 2013), was an American pianist who achieved worldwide recognition in 1958 at the age of twenty-three, when he won the first quadrennial International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, at the height of the Cold War.[1][2]
Biography
Early life
Van Cliburn was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and began taking piano lessons at the age of three from his mother, the former Rildia Bee O'Bryan, who, in turn, had been instructed by Arthur Friedheim,[3] a pupil of Franz Liszt.[1] At six years old, Cliburn moved with his family to Kilgore, Texas, and at twelve he won a statewide piano competition which enabled him to debut with the Houston Symphony Orchestra.[4] He entered the Juilliard School at the age of seventeen,[4] and studied under Rosina Lhévinne,[4] who trained him in the tradition of the great Russian romantics. At twenty, Cliburn won the Leventritt Award,[4] and made his Carnegie Hall debut.
Moscow
It was his recognition in Moscow that propelled Cliburn to international fame.[5] The first International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958 was an event designed to demonstrate Soviet cultural superiority during the Cold War, on the heels of their technological victory with the Sputnik launch in October 1957. Cliburn's performance at the competition finale of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 earned him a standing ovation lasting eight minutes.[2] When it was time to announce a winner, the judges were obliged to ask permission of the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to give first prize to an American. "Is he the best?" Khrushchev asked. "Then give him the prize!"[2] Cliburn returned home to a ticker-tape parade in New York City, the only time the honor has been accorded a classical musician. His cover story in Time proclaimed him "The Texan Who Conquered Russia."[6]
Success
Upon returning to the United States, Cliburn appeared in a Carnegie Hall concert with the Symphony of the Air, conducted by Kirill Kondrashin, who had led the Moscow Philharmonic in the prize-winning performances in Moscow.[4] The performance of the Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto at this concert was subsequently released by RCA Victor on both LP and CD. Cliburn was also invited by Steve Allen to play a solo during Allen's prime time NBC television program on April 14, 1958.[7]
RCA Victor signed him to an exclusive contract, and his subsequent recording of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 became the first classical album to go platinum.[8] It was the best-selling classical album in the world for more than a decade, eventually going triple-platinum. Cliburn won the 1958 Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance for this recording. In 2004, this recording was re-mastered from the original studio analogue tapes, and released in the highest quality ever on high-resolution Super Audio CD.
Other famous concerti Cliburn recorded include the Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2, Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 and No. 5 "Emperor", and the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3.
In 1958, during a dinner hosted by the National Guild of Piano Teachers,[9] President and Founder Dr. Irl Allison announced a cash prize of $10,000 to be used for a piano competition named in Van Cliburn’s honor. Under the leadership of Grace Ward Lankford and with the dedicated efforts of local music teachers and volunteers, the First Van Cliburn International Piano Competition was held September 24-October 7, 1962 at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.[4] Until his death, Cliburn continued to serve as Director Emeritus for the Van Cliburn Foundation, as host of the quadrennial competition and host of other programs honoring his legacy.
Cliburn returned to the Soviet Union on several occasions.[4] His performances were usually recorded and even televised. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Mr. Cliburn's affection for the Soviet people—and theirs for him—was notable in its warmth during a prolonged period of superpower strain."[1] A videotape of his 1958 performance of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 with Kirill Kondrashin and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra documents that Premier Khrushchev was in the audience, joining in the enthusiastic applause.[10] A 1972 concert performance of the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 with Kondrashin and the Moscow orchestra, as well as a studio recording of Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, were later issued on CD by RCA Victor.[11]
On May 26, 1972, Cliburn gave a concert at Spaso House, the residence of the United States Ambassador to Russia, for an audience which included President Richard M. Nixon, Secretary of State William P. Rogers, and Soviet government officials.
Comeback
Cliburn performed and recorded through the 1970s, but in 1978, after the deaths of his father and manager, began a hiatus from public life. In 1987, he was invited to perform at the White House for President Ronald Reagan and Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev,[1] and afterward was invited to open the 100th anniversary season of Carnegie Hall. He embarked on a 16-city tour in 1994, commencing with a performance of the Tchaikovsky concerto at the Hollywood Bowl. Also in 1994, Cliburn made a guest appearance in the cartoon Iron Man, playing himself in the episode "Silence My Companion, Death My Destination". In his late seventies he gave a limited number of performances to critical and popular acclaim. Cliburn appeared as a Pennington Great Performers series artist with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra in 2006. He played for royalty and heads of state from dozens of countries, and for every U.S. President from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Barack Obama.[12]
He began every concert with The Star-Spangled Banner.
Honors
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/MVI_2791_Van_Cliburn_in_Fort_Worth_Cultural_District.jpg/200px-MVI_2791_Van_Cliburn_in_Fort_Worth_Cultural_District.jpg)
Cliburn received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2001. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003 by President George W. Bush, and, in October 2004, the Russian Order of Friendship, the highest civilian awards of the two countries. He was also awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award the same year and played at a surprise 50th birthday party for United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He was a member of the Alpha Chi Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and was awarded the fraternity's Charles E. Lutton Man of Music Award in 1962. He was presented a 2010 National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama.[12]
Personal life
In 1998, Cliburn was named in a lawsuit by his alleged domestic partner of seventeen years, mortician Thomas Zaremba.[13] In the suit, Zaremba claimed entitlement to a portion of Cliburn's income and assets and went on to charge that he might have been exposed to HIV, claiming emotional distress. The claims were denied by a trial court and affirmed by an appellate court, which held that palimony suits are not permitted in the state of Texas unless the relationship is based on a written agreement.
Cliburn was known as a night owl. He often practiced until 4:30 or 5 a.m., waking around 1:30 p.m.[14] "You feel like you're alone and the world's asleep, and it's very inspiring."[15]
Cliburn, a Baptist, attended church every week.[16]
Death and legacy
On August 27, 2012, Van Cliburn's publicist announced that the pianist had advanced bone cancer. He underwent treatment and was “resting comfortably at home” in Fort Worth, Texas, where he received around-the-clock care.[17][18] Cliburn died on February 27, 2013.[19]
The Wall Street Journal commented on his death that Cliburn was a "cultural hero" who "rocketed to unheard-of stardom for a classical musician in the U.S."[1] Cliburn became the first classical musician to have an album sell one million copies with his Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 recording of 1958.[1] Calling him "the rare classical musician to enjoy rock star status", the Associated Press on his death noted the 1958 Time Magazine cover story that likened him to "Horowitz, Liberace and Presley all rolled into one."[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Famed Pianist Van Cliburn Dies By JENNIFER MALONEY Wall Street Journal on line February 27, 2013, 12:21 p.m. ET http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443864204577621492136875530.html
- ^ a b c Page, Tim (27 February 2013). "Van Cliburn, celebrated classical pianist, dies at 78". Washington Post. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
- ^ Arthur FRIEDHEIM
- ^ a b c d e f g Marquis Who's Who
- ^ a b Van Cliburn dies; American classical pianist was 78 Published February 27, 2013 Associated Press http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/02/27/van-cliburn-deadl-american-classical-pianist-was-78/#ixzz2M7pEKyca
- ^ "Show Business: Van's Big Year" (Oct. 06, 1958) Time
- ^ "Those Were the Days: Archives April 14". 440 International. Retrieved 2011-12-07.
- ^ "About Van Cliburn". Van Cliburn Foundation. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
- ^ National Guild of Piano Teachers
- ^ Van Cliburn in Moscow, Vol. 1 (1962)
- ^ Van Cliburn in Moscow - Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Rachmaninoff: Paganini Rhapsody
- ^ a b "Pianist Van Cliburn honored with the National Medal of Arts" (March 2, 2011) The McClatchy Company
- ^ Rapp, Linda. "Cliburn, Van". glbtq.com. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ Rogers, Mary (May 18, 1997). "A Midnight Conversation with Van Cliburn" (PDF). Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
- ^ Van Cliburn (1 March 2008). (Interview). Interviewed by Scott Simon http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87771963. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
{{cite interview}}
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- ^ "Publicist: Renowned pianist Van Cliburn has advanced bone cancer, resting at Texas home". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
- ^ WAKIN, Daniel (August 27, 2012,). "Van Cliburn Has Advanced Bone Cancer". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
{{cite news}}
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(help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ "American pianist Van Cliburn, whose 1958 triumph at a Moscow competition impressed world, dies". The Washingon Post, February 27, 2013.
External links
- The Van Cliburn Foundation
- Van Cliburn 1958 Time magazine, cover image
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Van Cliburn collected news and commentary at The New York Times
- Van Cliburn at IMDb
- Template:Worldcat id
- Staff writers (19 May 1958). "The All-American Virtuoso". Time. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- "Court grants Pianist's ex-Partner Chance to Amend Suit". AEGiS. National Library of Medicine. 1997. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
{{cite web}}
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