Encore!
Word came yesterday that the great pianist Van Cliburn died on Wednesday. Though his career did not fulfill its early promise, there was a time when his name was on everyone’s lips. He was the man who so wowed the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow in 1958 that judges were forced to ask Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev if they could give him the medal. “Is he the best? Then give him the prize,” Khruschev is supposed to have said.
Van Cliburn took not just the classical music world by storm. He was featured on the cover of Time magazine, given a New York City ticker tape parade. When I told my kids this last night, they said, “What’s a ticker tape parade?”
I heard Van Cliburn play when I was a child, a young piano student. Not yet in love with classical music, I stared up at the ceiling of the concert hall, counting the beams or the light fixtures or something. Bored by the Chopin or the Rachmaninoff or whatever dazzling piece he was playing. Bored by my own lack of understanding.
Could I have that concert back now, please?
3 thoughts on “Encore!”
My teenager has developed an unlikely, and unexpected, love of classical music, mostly symphonic. I caught him doing homework yesterday with earphones on. When I suggested his study might be more effective without the loud distraction, he pointed out he was listening to opera. Somehow that derailed my argument. I'll take it!
I am lucky enough to have grown up close to the world famous Interlochen Arts Academy where Van Cliburn would perform yearly concerts for several years as fundraisers. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the privilege of enjoying his marvelous musicianship. May he rest in peace.
I also read an enchanting short essay in the Washington Post on Friday about how Van Cliburn played the piano for her father when he was dying of cancer. On one occasion, the pianist arrived late one evening and played through the entire night.