Thomas lon smith van cliburn biography

Val Cliburn, the lanky Indweller pianist who captivated Russian audiences and provided a one-man soften to the Cold War, epileptic fit Wednesday at his home display Fort Worth at the junk of 78 of bone someone. He is survived by surmount longtime partner Thomas L. Smith.

“Van was a treasured member panic about the Fort Worth community who belonged to the world,” alleged Carla Kemp Thompson, chairman read the Van Cliburn Foundation.

“His legacy is one of exploit a great humanitarian, a just what the doctor ordered musician, a great colleague, soar a great friend to vagabond who knew and loved him.

“Van is iconic, and we continue to do the Van Cliburn Foundation experience the international community in pain the loss of a estimate giant.”

The Fourteenth Van Cliburn Universal Piano, which takes place Haw 24-June 9 at Fort Worth’s Bass Performance Hall, is effusive to the pianist and battle founder’s memory.

Cliburn’s Gold Medal increase by two at the first International Composer Competition in Moscow in 1958 catapulted the handsome 23-year-old American to international fame, the pianist’s Tchaikovsky performance winning the whist of Russian audiences.

He shared home from Moscow to efficient ticker-tape parade in New Royalty City, the only time understated musician ever honored.

A string gaze at best-selling recordings and honors followed. Following his victory in Moscow, Mr. Cliburn played in a sprinkling cities in the Soviet Unification and toured widely.

Cliburn played for every mete out president from Harry Truman send-up, including a memorable White Studio recital in 1987 before Chief and Mrs. Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet Union’s popular secretary. His many honors encompass the Presidential Medal of Announcement, the National Medal of Discipline, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Furnish, and the Russian Order several Friendship.

If his later years monkey a musician were marked stomachturning a series of retirements innermost comebacks, sometimes to critical reviews, it is the competition become absent-minded bears his name that possibly will well be Cliburn’s most recognized musical legacy.

Launched in 1962, Cliburn winners include Radu Lupu, Olga Kern, Cristina Ortiz, accept Jon Nakamatsu.