Van Cliburn obituary

American pianist who has been hailed as a hero after he picked up a Grand Prize of Russia in 1958, at the height of the Cold War

American pianist Van Cliburn, who died aged 78 after suffering from cancer, was a difficult man to miss. At the age of 17, he was 6 feet 4 inches, but radiated a kind of innocence, a childlike quality, which became more striking as the years passed. And when he reached the age of 23 made headlines around the world after winning the first Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow.

An American victory has never been included in this showcase of Russian supremacy budding pianist, whose jury was composed of two Sviatoslav Richter and Emil Gilels. However, instead of humiliation, Cliburn victory in 1958 was a cause for celebration. The Russians loved besieged, covered it with flowers. His victory was supported by the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev himself.

reached the height of the Cold War, after the United States had been crushed by the Soviet launch of Sputnik 1, the satellite into orbit in the first place, it proved to be a sensation. The return of the patriot sober, thin, church attendance was marked by tickertape parade in New York, with 100,000 people lining the streets and cheering. It was not primarily a pianist, but a symbol, a national approach. Pride and hope

Cliburn has played for every American president from Harry Truman to Barack Obama - especially for Ronald Reagan during his host was Mikhail Gorbachev. Thus, the meaning of what happened in Moscow must not forget that usually started tracking recitals with the Star-Spangled Banner.

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Van began playing at the age of three years. He was taught by his mother, Bee O'Bryan Cliburn Rildia, a pianist whose own teacher, Arthur Friedheim was a pupil of Liszt. His father, Harvey Lavan Cliburn Sr, was an officer of the oil company. Van began to give recitals in four, and two years later, the family moved to Kilgore, Texas. Van was 12 years old when he made his orchestral debut at the Tchaikovsky First Piano Concerto with the Houston Symphony.

• In 1951, he entered the Juilliard School of Music in New York to study with Lhevinne of Russian origin, Rosina, was already a veteran concert. In 1954, he won the prestigious Leventritt, the jury was composed of Rudolf Serkin, George Szell and Leonard Bernstein, and embarked on a series of releases from major orchestras. It was good, but not significantly better than their most respected colleagues.
• in Moscow has changed that with his performances of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov third concert first. Once back in the United States, made a recording of Tchaikovsky million sales, but critics fear not long to be expressed. Although few dispute his stature in the Russian repertoire - and returned to the Soviet Union several times after initial triumph - more to be desired when it was diverted elsewhere in Mozart, or even American Edward MacDowell. Their history of mutual love with the audience never wavered, but in 1978 announced a sabbatical musical life. It extended a decade. He returned to performing in 1989, but only sporadically, and many critics detect a decrease in the embers of talent and unfulfilled.

When I met at summer school Serkin festival-cum-Marlboro, Vermont, he was 22 years old, a 14 dizzy. Even then, I saw on his face a surprising shyness. When we met again in 1991, Cliburn was in rehearsal for the opening concert of the centenary celebrations of Carnegie Hall. As I approached the building, I noticed a bright white limousine. Cliburn, who had lived for some time with his mother in 15 rooms in an expensive hotel in Manhattan, was for many years one of the highest paid classical soloists. His attitude during the interview that followed was grace itself.

surprising as his youthful appearance and formality was reserved obvious sincerity of the thoughts and feelings behind them. This helps explain the phenomenal effect on the public. Words and their analysis does not seem natural: instead, a phenomenal instinct combined musical and emotional supervisory experience - is opposed, as touching sentimentality nor bombast early - with physical gifts of a very rare:

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