American classical pianist Van Cliburn dies at age 78

I only saw him perform at one concert-it was at the time of the Kennedy Assassination and it was in Austin, Texas. He had already scheduled a performance prior to the tragedy and went ahead with it, as a memorial to JFK. He seemed rather elite and arrogant to me at the time. He got really pissed off when the audience applauded him after his first piece, I guess they were supposed to remain silent by tradition or something. He was pretty good tho.

After more than 50 years after the release of Van Cliburn’s Tchaikovsky piano concerto No. 1 I still play that piece music frequently. Sad to see Van Cliburn leaving this world, but his music will stay dearly in our heart. You could watch his cometition performance of May 1959 in Moscow via Youtube.com.

After more than 50 years after the release of Van Cliburn’s Tchaikovsky piano concerto No. 1 I still play that piece music frequently. Sad to see Van Cliburn leaving this world, but his music will stay dearly in our heart. You could watch his cometition performance of May 1959 in Moscow via Youtube.com.

We’ve lost a true pianistic legend. I met Van Cliburn and his mother, Rildia Bee, in Fort Worth when I was performing for a Cliburn Concerts event. We shared our warm recollections of studies at The Juilliard School–Van was a pupil if Rosina Lhevinne, and I was with Adele Marcus, although 25+years apart. His trademark musical qualities were his warm sound and spacious playing, a truly beautiful Rachmaninoff Third Concerto, among other legendary interpretations of the standard repertoire. He will be missed, but his mark in musical history is forever etched and his recorded legacy will follow his earthly footsteps.

Now he can jamb with Tchi and Rach in heaven. He was an AWESOME pianist that (for me) really brought out the greatness of the music. I’m gonna select them on my ipod today.