Van Cliburn, the American pianist whose first-place award at the 1958 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow made him an overnight sensation and propelled him to a phenomenally successful and lucrative career, though a short-lived one, died on Wednesday at his home in Fort Worth. He was 78.
RIP, Van.
ReplyDeleteVery talented pianist! RIP also to Dale Robertson!
ReplyDeleteRest in Peace. Amazing musicians like him aren't coming around so much anymore.
ReplyDeleteRIP, Van.
ReplyDeleteRIP, I know he was sick for a long time. He will really be missed in the DFW area.
ReplyDeleteI know someone who met him and said he was an incredible drunk! Really very sad. All that talent but still demons (see Scott Weiland post).
ReplyDeleteMr. Cliburn came to the University of Colorado for a performance. The nuns at our boarding school got us tickets to attend his concert. After the concert, another girl and I decided to go see if we could get backstage to meet him. We were so totally geeky that someone took us backstage to meet him. He was so gracious and kind and TALL!!!!. He signed our autographs and we discovered the nuns and other girls left us. We raced back to our school and the doors were locked. We had to ring the bell and the nun let us in. Needless to say, she was not a happy camper. But we showed her our autographs and we were sent to bed without further conversation. I will always remember meeting him and how he took the time with two dorks in high school. RIP
ReplyDeleteSaw him play at Carnegie Hall when I was 16. It was my birthday present from the parents. I was mesmerized. RIP.
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