The Van Cliburn Story, Howard Reich
The Van Cliburn Story, Howard Reich
List: $22.95 | Sale: $16.07
Club: $11.47

The Van Cliburn Story

Author: Howard Reich

Narrator: Tom Taylorson

Unabridged: 11 hr 40 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/10/2015


Synopsis

When a lanky, unpretentious, incredibly gifted, twenty-three-year-old Texan took Moscow by musical storm in 1958, it launched a sensational career that began at the age of thirteen and was to span over four decades. At the height of the Cold War, this friendly, open-hearted pianist enchanted the hearts of Americans and Russians alike with playing that was more about “personal communications than exhibitionistic virtuosity.” Winning the Soviet-sponsored Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition immediately thrust Van Cliburn into political as well as artistic pressures, attention, adulation, and scrutiny that might have sabotaged any young artist who lacked the confidence and conviction of Van Cliburn.After an eleven-year retreat into privacy, the myth that surrounded the name Van Cliburn in the 1950s and ’60s became legend with his triumphant reentry in 1987―an event that was to epitomize the poetic nature of Van’s entire life. Responding to an invitation to perform for Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev at a state dinner, Van once again proved that music is indeed the universal language of understanding and is capable of uniting our diverse cultures. Bounding off the platform after his performance to kiss Nancy Reagan and Raisa Gorbachev, Van responded to Raisa’s request for more music by playing the beloved Soviet song “Moscow Nights”―the same nostalgic song he had learned and performed during his first incredible journey to Moscow in 1958.As millions of Americans watched on their television screens, the usual staid state dinner dissolved into a moving memory of Van singing along with the Gorbachevs as the whole room was overcome by tears. Russia and America joined hands and hearts in this one historical moment.

About Howard Reich

Howard Reich has been an award-winning Chicago Tribune arts critic and writer since 1983. In addition to covering jazz, blues, gospel, and world music, he has authored several investigative reports that have been featured on ABC’s Nightline and various NPR programs. He is the author of three other books: The First and Final Nightmare of Sonia Reich, Let Freedom Swing, and Jelly’s Blues, written with William Gaines. Reich graduated from Northwestern University’s School of Music.

About Tom Taylorson

Tom Taylorson is an Earphones Award–winning narrator and Chicago-based actor with over a decade of stage experience. In that time he also built a voice-over career and now primarily works as a voice actor. Tom is an adjunct faculty member at Columbia College Chicago, teaching voice-over for interactive media.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Ashley

I mean come on. Its just not that easy. This story depicts the classic perception of a marvelous and quirky pianist like Cliburn, yet it entails that his career was smooth sailing and that there was no doubt Cliburn was meant to be a pianist. However, there seems to be more behind this lanky Texan t......more

Goodreads review by Jess

A nice overview of Van Cliburn's public life up until the 80s-90s. Not much depth or insight into his personal life or relationships.......more

Goodreads review by Leo

"Every cab driver in town (both of them) suddenly was talking Beethoven and Brahms." This book answered every question I ever had about Van Cliburn. Specifically, it answered the question "Van who?" From what I can tell, Cliburn single handedly ended the cold war by winning a piano competition in mosc......more

Goodreads review by Mary

It was great to be taken back in time to 1958 when I was 12 years old and Van Cliburn about 23 and winning the First Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at the height of the Cold War. I heard his name, but didn't understand the significance of his feat at all at the time. It has been a real revelation......more


Quotes

“The most moving part of the book…is the account of Cliburn’s love affair with the Russian people at the height of the Cold War.” Publishers Weekly

“The writing is clear and breezy and presents an interesting behind-the-scenes view of music competitions.” Library Journal