Pianist Van Cliburn's international fame landed him on the popular '50s and '60s television quiz show What's My Line? as a mystery guest - not a typical scenario for most classical artists.
In the wake of his death from cancer on Feb. 27th, the music world is reminded anew that winning the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958 did him a world of good as well as a world of harm. Yet he wasn't the only one. The Philadelphia Inquirer's David Patrick Stearns looks at the somewhat lost generation that was Cliburn's pianistic contemporaries, including Leon Fleisher, Gary Graffman, and Byron Janis.
Violinist Michael Ludwig at the WRTI performance studio.
Van Cliburn joined Michael in a performance of Rachmaninoff's Vocalise at a chamber music recital in 2007. The legendary pianist praised Michael's "gorgeous sound and his heartfelt passion and intensity."
Irving Ludwig and Michael Ludwig
Michael with composer Kenneth Fuchs and conductor JoAnn Falletta - at the famed Abbey Road studios, after recording works by Fuchs with the London Symphony Orchestra in 2011.
Originally published on Wed October 24, 2012 1:26 pm
Very touching: the ailing Van Cliburn addressed the Fort Worth audience at the concert celebrating his competition's 50th anniversary: "I personally want to thank you all for all of your faithful support. Never forget that I love you all from the bottom of my heart forever."
Originally published on Tue September 18, 2012 3:53 pm
Renowned Fort Worth pianist Van Cliburn, 78, has bone cancer. Long time friend and publicist Mary Lou Falcone issued this brief statement Monday afternoon.
"Van Cliburn has been diagnosed with advanced bone cancer," Falcone said. "He is under excellent care and resting comfortably at home. His spirits are high. We ask that his privacy be respected."
