Mr. Cliburn giving a toast at an event at the Kimbell museum in Texas this month marking the anniversary of his victory. At right, Mayor Mike Moncrief of Fort Worth; at left, Aleksandr S. Sokolov, Russia’s culture minister.
Posted on 03/08/2008 10:24:28 PM PST by Borges
A half-century after meeting him, the Russian people still adore Van Cliburn. That was the message conveyed by Aleksandr S. Sokolov, the Russian minister of culture, and Yuri V. Ushakov, the Russian ambassador to the United States, during toasts at a black-tie dinner and musical tribute here on March 1. Sponsored by the Van Cliburn Foundation, the event commemorated the 50th anniversary of Mr. Cliburn’s victory in the first Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow in April 1958.
Before nearly 1,000 guests in an elaborate 40,000-square-foot tent on the grounds of the Kimbell Art Museum, Mr. Sokolov read a message of congratulations from President Vladimir V. Putin, an honorary sponsor of the event, who could not attend. Mr. Ushakov paid tribute to the “two Van Cliburns,” as he put it: the proud Texan who conquered Russian hearts with his magnificent artistry and the honorary Russian who was mobbed by Muscovites on the streets hugging and kissing him amid shouts of “Van KLEE-burn!”
“You don’t have two heads,” Mr. Ushakov said, “but you have two souls and two hearts, and I propose a toast to both of you.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Classical Music PING
In the early 90s I heard the Moscow Phil. and Van Clilburn
here in San Diego. What a once in a life time event to be able to see
Some of the best modern experiments project something truly great, over and above the tawdry self. Modern music is experimental, a mortar and pestle approach and then lovely explosions that draws soul outward... to meet the next explosion.
Who is Stan Richter? Have you been abusing your vodka tonight?
Well said, FRiend. Ping me anytime you want a seconder defending new music.
It took years of intermittent reading about him to conclude that he seems to have been stricken by some combination of burnout, insecurity, laziness, and/or ennui.
Interesting artist.
Stanislav Richter, another classical pianist.
I think it's Sviatoslav Richter.
He stopped playing in the U.S. after 1970 because of some anti-Soviet heckling he recieved.
I know about Richter and have many of his recordings. My comment was meant to point out that you don’t know his first name, by which I am amused.
Your original response wasn’t to me.
There was a great story about him on the radio the other day. A woman and her friend, college students, had gone to a concert rather underdressed for the event in jeans. Somehow they ended up backstage and were feeling very out of place. A well-dressed woman saw them, scowled, and was on her way to tell them to leave when Cliburn saw what was about to happen. He excused himself from the people he was talking to and made a beeline for the two girls, greeting them as old friends and chatting with them for ten minutes or so. The well-dressed woman got the hint. Whatever his musical strengths and weaknesses, he seems like a good guy.
Wow I go to concerts dressed in jeans all the time. I wonder if people stare.
Good story. I think he is a true gentleman also, from your story and from others I’ve heard (that I can’t recall tonight).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.