Thread: Van Cliburn diagnosed with advanced stage bone cancer

http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/08...#storylink=cpy

Piano legend Van Cliburn has been diagnosed with advanced bone cancer, a spokeswoman for the artist said Monday.

"He is under excellent care and resting comfortably at home," said Mary Lou Falcone, Cliburn's longtime friend and publicist. "His spirits are high. We ask that his privacy be respected."

Alann Sampson, interim president and CEO of the Van Cliburn Foundation and and another of the Fort Worth pianist's close friends, confirmed that he is gravely ill, but declined to comment further.

Cliburn, who turned 78 in July, has been an international celebrity since he stunned the world in 1958 by winning the first Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow. The unlikely triumph at the height of the Cold War vaulted the lanky Texan to a level of stardom rarely achieved by classical musicians, including a ticker tape parade in New York City.

Cliburn went on to one of the most prominent performing and recording careers of the 20th century. His life also intersected with major figures of his era, including several American presidents and Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union at the time of Cliburn's triumph.

"Did I really live through all that?" Cliburn said in an interview with the Star-Telegram this spring. "I'm grateful for all the many things that have come my way."

In 1962, Cliburn also lent his name to the quadrennial Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, widely considered to be one of the world's finest. He has greeted each of the young performers at the competitions, befriended many, and presented awards to the winners.

The next competition is scheduled to begin next May in Fort Worth.

Cliburn has lived in Westover Hills, on Fort Worth's west side, since the 1980s, and has been a fixture in local cultural life. Cliburn has performed for every American president since Harry Truman. In 2003, President George W. Bush presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has also received a Grammy lifetime achievement award. Tim Madigan, (817) 390-7544

Last I saw him was at a TCU football game a couple of years ago. Very well-mannered and generous man who has done more for the city of Fort Worth musically than anyone else I can think of.

Very sad to see. But atleast he's lived a pretty fulfilling life as far as I can tell by his musical contributions. I follow the Van Cliburn Competition every 4 years and the last time I saw him was during one of the competitions.

Good luck Van!

One of the first records I ever listened to was Van Cliburn playing Beethoven concerto #5. On vinyl.

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He made a surprise appearance at a concert in Fort Worth yesterday. I almost bought tickets for this concert. Now I really wish I had.

Van Cliburn makes surprise appearance

Originally Posted by Dongiovanni

One of the first records I ever listened to was Van Cliburn playing Beethoven concerto #5. On vinyl.

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It's my favorite recording of the work. Cliburn and Reiner keep the bombast in check, and bring out the unique beauty that I hadn't realized was there. I also much admire their performance of Rachmaninoff's second concerto.

I hope Cliburn is happy with his life's work; seems like he ought to be.

I've heard many of Cliburn's recordings and have attended several live concerts. In the 1960s, he had a home in Tucson, Arizona near where I lived. I was able to interview him for an hour and wrote an article about him for my High School newspaper.

He has passed, age 78.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/02...tml?video=true

He shook up the world!

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