Russians conquered my heart

I didn´t say it (although my wife is half-Russian 🙂).

Those are the words of legendary American pianist, Van Cliburn.

Cliburn was the winner of the very first Tchaikovsky Piano Competition. And this is more significant than what you would first imagine it to be:

The year was 1958.

Amid the Cold War, the Soviet Union was leading the technological front by sending the satellite Sputnik to space. And they also wanted to lead culturally.

One of the things they did was to establish a grand music competition bearing the name of one of its greatest representatives: Piotr Illich Tchaikovsky. It was the opportunity to showcase the greatest Soviet musical talents.

However, a tall young man from Texas came and won both the public and the jury over. And this was no small feat; members of the jury included Dmitri Shostakovich, Emil Gilels, and Sviatoslav Richter, among others.

Unsure over whether they could give the prize to an American, they actually had to ask permission from Nikita Jruschov, then the leader of the Soviet Union.

Jruschov said: “Is he the best? Then give him the prize!”

Van Cliburn returned to America as a hero. The way he was received back home was nothing short of monumental.

I´d love to share a brief part of an interview where Van Cliburn recalls this event. It is a piece of history worth watching. Here is the link.

Enjoy, and have a great day.

Claudio.