Classical pianist Van Cliburn has died, at 78. I was a teenager when he won the 1958 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. He was a hero to many of us. Yes, we were deep in the Cold War back then, and wow, an American won the Russian competition. And yes, there was a ticker-tape parade in NYC when he returned.
RIP
“Full moon, and empty eyes…”
Thanks for that youtube link.
Van Cliburn composed and performed the score for what I believe was the first monster movie I ever saw in a theater, “The Colossus of New York” (1958).
The Texas pianist who stunned the world by winning the Tchaikovsy Piano Competition in Moscow in 1958 died Wednesday at age 78.
Coincidently I had just taken out a double CD of “Legendary Performances” from the library a couple of weeks ago and still have it on hand as it was good enough to renew.
(Have a couple of LPs but turntable needs to be replaced)
Missed your post, just posted the same.
I saw a movie that featured the competition (unless I dreamt it) or some of his other musical pyrotechnics, when I was a headbanger in HS. I was amazed at how great he was.
RIP