Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist (1934 - Feb 2013)

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist (1934 - Feb 2013)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Mar 13 - 12:45 AM

When we moved to Fort Worth in 1989 Cliburn had recently moved into his big house. The movers bashed several of my antiques and sent out a team of furniture restorers who they kept on the payroll. As they worked on fixing my banged-up piano, we talked, and it turns out these restorers also move fine antiques and large objects (like pianos) and had moved all of the Cliburn possessions into the new house. It's not like you just leave all of the boxes in the appointed rooms - the job involved unpacking and putting things away. Every so often they'd get a call from Cliburn asking if they remembered where they put some particular item.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram coverage of the funeral. Lots of photos, including some political types who were there just to be seen. Perry in particular.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist (1934 - Feb 2013)
From: Ron Davies
Date: 02 Mar 13 - 07:49 AM

Wesley--

Fascinating story.   What business were you in that had Van Cliburn as a customer?

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist (1934 - Feb 2013)
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 09:59 AM

Right Mrdux, he had a way with French music as well. I have a well worn LP of him playing Debussy which is surprisingly good and also some Ravel on another.

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist (1934 - Feb 2013)
From: Wesley S
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 08:42 AM

When I lived in Ft Worth Van Cliburn was a client of the place I worked at - and folks would practically hyperventilate when he came in. I remember as the new guy being warned by several people "do not EVER try to shake hands with Van - it just isn't done". I was amused by that until I realized that his hands were his "instrument" and the last thing he needed was some jerk-wad trying to prove his manhood by crushing his hand in an ironclad grip.

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist (1934 - Feb 2013)
From: mrdux
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 01:46 AM

although he wasn't especially known for it, he recorded some wonderful Ravel.

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist (1934 - Feb 2013)
From: Ron Davies
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 08:48 PM

By the way Genie, congratulations on having heard him--in 1959, no less.    That must have been absolutely stunning.    Do you recall what he played?

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist (1934 - Feb 2013)
From: Ron Davies
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 08:40 PM

But at least he did not have to wait til his death to be recognized, acclaimed and rewarded--in fact far more than most classical musicians.

Once in a while, virtue is rewarded.


And on top of that, he was very modest about it--and gave back--hugely--to the music community.

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist (1934 - Feb 2013)
From: Genie
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 07:09 PM

I had the privilege of hearing him as a freshman at Baylor Univ. the year after he won the 1958 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.    It was really thrilling to hear him (and one of the few good things about having spent a year in Waco).

So sad that he has died so young and from a cancer like this.

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist (1934 - Feb 2013)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 03:25 PM

There has been some activity at KERA-FM, the Dallas-Fort Worth NPR station, since Cliburn lived in Fort Worth. There is an hour-long program they played last night.

A link to a story that I think played on ATC. There are a couple of other stories linked from that page. If KERA puts up a link to the longer program I'll add it.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist - Feb 2013
From: Ron Davies
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 10:28 PM

Did you catch the "All Things Considered" piece on him this evening?   

He brought out, among other things, gentleness in the Tchaikosvsky concerto that Russian pianists had not--and was admired and emulated for it.

He thought of the concerto as singing.

He asked before he went back to Russia a few years ago if they would remember him.   He was mobbed.

Also, a wonderful quote, endorsed by Van Cliburn, originally by Rachmaninoff:    "Great music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for great music."

Perfect.

And he even received reward for his talent in his lifetime--including the first million selling classical record (must be LP).

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist - Feb 2013
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 08:27 PM

it's always sad when a talented person like him passes on.

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist - Feb 2013
From: Ron Davies
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 07:09 PM

The best possible ambassador to the USSR the US could have had--at a time we really needed him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist - Feb 2013
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 05:17 PM

Rest in Peace...

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist - Feb 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 03:50 PM

I doubt he died peacefully or painlessly if he had bone cancer.

RIP, Mr. Cliburn.

New York Times obit

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist - Feb 2013
From: Ron Davies
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 02:55 PM

Music, the international language.

RIP, Van Cliburn.





I had no idea his first name was Harvey. Probably won't need that information, either.

Subject: Obit: Van Cliburn - Pianist - Feb 2013
From: Wesley S
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 02:39 PM

Pianist Van Cliburn died peacefully at home from bone cancer. He was a rare talent.


Story Here