Van Cliburn coming to town
Posted: September 17th, 2006 | Author: Jeff | Filed under: Piano | 2 Comments »
I bought tickets to the Van Cliburn concert over 6 months ago for $150 a ticket. And finally, it looks like the show will go on (after being rescheduled twice)…knock on wood. For me, this is like going to the Super Bowl. There’s also a preconcert reception that I’m looking forward to.
Seeing that Van Cliburn is around 72 years old, I’m not expecting the performance to be anything like his performances during his prime. His recording of the Tchaikowsky Concerto No.1 is still one of my favorites (S. Richter’s playing of Tchaik1 is also pretty darn good).
oh enjoy the concert!
I heard Van Cliburn play at Hollywood Bowl in the 90s. Can’t recall exactly which year it was, but it was a sold out crowd for sure.
I have been a devotee of Cliburn starting when I was just 4 or 5 years old and my mother let me play hsi records on my little children’s phonograph. Even at that tender an age, I was transfixed by his playing.
I met Van for the first time on the occasion of my 21st birthday when my parents purchased front row tickets for his performance in Virginia. Since then, I have been fortunate to hear Van play in live concert on several occasions and visit him backstage. He is a very warm, kind man and always greets me with a big Texas hug! His partner Tommy is also most kind and cordial.
The last time I saw Maestro Cliburn play in live performance was at Tanglewood 2001. He played the Grieg and, as always, his performance was transcendent. Let there be no mistake: Van Cliburn is in a class all by himself, despite his 72 years. There simply will never be another pianist like him. He is one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time, but also the sweetest, kindest , most humble artist I have ever met. He always plays my favorite encore when I am at one of his concerts, Schumann-Liszt’s “Widmung” (Dedicaton). I had requested it back in 1997 and he never forgot it was my favorite. That’s the kind of person he is, so thoughtful and generous. And that piece is “so Van!” It’s on his “My Favorite Encores” CD – listen to it and you will be transported.