The great American pianist Van Cliburn passed away on Wednesday at the age of 78. Most Americans (and Russians) of a certain age will remember Cliburn's triumphal win at the First Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in 1958, playing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. At what was supposed to be a showcase for Russian talent, the 23-year-old Cliburn not only won the competition, but was awarded an eight-minute standing ovation.
He played for every President from Eisenhower to Obama. But beyond his mastery, Cliburn was a gentleman with a soul; you have to read this account of what Cliburn did for an acquaintance and see if you don't get a tear in your eye. Go ahead and turn up the volume and take some time to listen to this, considered by some to be the definitive recording of Piano Concerto No. 1:
