During summer 2011, the buzz in Moscow wasn't just the excitement surrounding the XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition. Classical music fans throughout the country were overjoyed to welcome back Van Cliburn, who returned to Moscow, not as a touring pianist or official state guest, but as honorary juror of the competition that catapulted him to worldwide fame in 1958.
From
the moment he arrived on June 21, 2011, he received rock-star
treatment, maintaining a full schedule of events and appearances
with the paparazzi and news media following him each step of the
way. The press had their mics and cameras cued for Mr. Cliburn's
return, having scheduled countless interviews with him.
Much to his astonishment during a press conference June 25, he was presented with a number of fan letters from 1958 never before delivered. Mr. Cliburn graciously accepted the remarkable gift and ended the press conference by speaking in Russian, pleasantly surprising the local press and further demonstrating his admiration for the Russian people and his ability to bridge cultures through a shared love for music.
During breaks from press interviews, you could find him either in the Great Hall attending the competition, where he was cheered wildly by the audience in between performances, on the streets of Moscow, where he was mobbed by fans of all ages, or visiting so many dear friends.
He toured the beautiful city of Moscow, revisiting sites such as Red Square and the Bolshoi Theatre and later visited the apartment, now turned museum, of Russian pianist, composer, and teacher Alexander Goldenweiser, who helped shape Mr. Cliburn's destiny. It was Goldenweiser who first approached Khrushchev and insisted that only Van Cliburn could rightfully be named winner of the first Tchaikovsky International Competition.
The museum is home to an abundance of Van Cliburn photos and as he looked through the photos, he was able to recall the events with such clarity and attention to detail. "To the great joy of all who visited the Goldenwesier museum home together with Van Cliburn, he seemed to have forgotten about the rigid daily schedule - and once again sipped tea and looked through photos, objects that held so many memories for him."
Of course, no city tour would be complete without a visit to the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. After stopping short of the hall's entrance to have his picture taken with the famed Tchaikovsky monument, Mr. Cliburn took a walk down memory lane as he entered the Great Hall.
He then took the stage where 53 years ago, the release of his finger from the keys following the last note of Tchaikovsky's own Piano Concerto no. 1 launched the audience out of their seats, initiating a seemingly endless standing ovation with a thundering applause that reverberated beyond the walls, into the streets of Moscow, and around the world. While he didn't give a performance this time around, Mr. Cliburn made sure to test out the piano on stage.
His years of travel to Russia have resulted in life-long friendships, many of which he's been able to rekindle on this most recent visit. Early in his stay he dined with Galina Vishnevskaya, wife of the late cello legend Mstislav Rostropovich and their daughter Olga.
Other familiar faces at the Tchaikovsky competition included three competitors from the Thirteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Watching Eduard Kunz, Lukas Vondráček, and Silver Medalist Yeol eum Son perform in the Great Hall, he was heartened to see their tremendous growth over the past two years. Mr. Cliburn of course cheered on all competitors, but had a special place in his heart for Yeol eum Son as she competed in the final round.
Mr. Cliburn capped off his trip by giving a speech during the competition award ceremony. His dear friend Olga Rostropovich was there by his side as his interpreter, representing a friendship between Van Cliburn and the Rostropovich family that has lasted over 53 years!
Van Cliburn described this return visit as "sheer magic." His being greeted with such an astonishing amount of love and adoration serves as a testament to Mr. Cliburn's humble elegance. The tall Texan's steadfast reverence for Russian culture, spurred by his commitment to music and its beauty, will forever demonstrate the power of music to bring people together across sociopolitical divides.
Photos provided by Tchaikovsky International Music Competition.