[kbell]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Cliburn

He is most famous for for winning the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958 during the Cold War.

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That's from the performance btw in 1962 I believe.

He died today of Bone Cancer.

[guerrilla]

yah, no shit. Where were YOU at 23!!!!

Not winning the world fucking piano competition! LOL!!!!!

jelly.

[kbell]

It was his recognition in Moscow that propelled Cliburn to international fame.[5] The first International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958 was an event designed to demonstrate Soviet cultural superiority during the Cold War, on the heels of their technological victory with the Sputnik launch in October 1957. Cliburn's performance at the competition finale of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 earned him a standing ovation lasting eight minutes.[2] When it was time to announce a winner, the judges were obliged to ask permission of the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to give first prize to an American. "Is he the best?" Khrushchev asked. "Then give him the prize!"[2] Cliburn returned home to a ticker-tape parade in New York City, the only time the honor has been accorded a classical musician. His cover story in Time proclaimed him "The Texan Who Conquered Russia."[6]

From the wikipedia article.