Extractions: AT A WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL DINNER WASHINGTON, DC - - The President and Mrs. Clinton are hosting Prime Minister and Mrs. Obuchi at a White House Official Dinner on Monday, May 3, 1999. Prime Minister and Mrs. Obuchi will arrive at the North Portico at 7:15 p.m. Guests will be received by the President and Mrs. Clinton, and Prime Minister and Mrs. Obuchi, in the Cross Hall of the White House. Following the receiving line, the President and Mrs. Clinton will escort Prime Minister and Mrs. Prodi to the Pavilion on the lower South Grounds of the White House for dinner. The tables in the Pavilion will be set with gold base plates; cream china with a gold band will be used for service. The table settings will sit on dark celadon table cloths with green satin stripes. Crystal bowls filled with a floating candle and gardenias surrounded by lush spring flowers, including lavender lilacs white peonies, freesia, and ginestra, create each tables centerpiece. Guests will be entertained in the Pavilion after the dinner by renowned concert pianist Van Cliburn.
Austin - Babakhanian Concert Armen Babakhanian is a young and very talented pianist from Yerevan, Armenia alsoa finalist of the United States' most acclaimed competition, the van cliburn. http://www.texahye.org/texahye/website/texas/austin/events95/baba95.htm
Extractions: Armen Babakhanian is a young and very talented pianist from Yerevan, Armenia. He is the laureate of several of the world's most prestigious international piano competitions, such as the Dublin and the Gina Bachauer. He was also a finalist of the United States' most acclaimed competition, the Van Cliburn. Though not the first prize winner, he captivated audiences and critics alike with the emotional intensity and interpretive imagination of his playing, which have clearly set him apart from today's other young stars! Armen Babakhanian's concert on April 21, 1995 was by far the most ambitious project the Armenian community in Austin undertook in the last several years. At the same time, it turned out to be one of the most successful too, bringing a lot of good publicity to our community!
Community Concerts Named Silver Medalist at the Eleventh van cliburn International Piano Competitionin June 2001, Italian pianist Antonio PompaBaldi was awarded two years of http://www.trawickartists.net/community/acts/soloists/pompa_baldi.html
Extractions: Antonio Pompa-Baldi: Piano Silver Medalist, 11th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Three Impromptus during the semifinal round. A former pupil of Aldo Ciccolini, Paul Badura-Skoda, Bruno Canino and Jorge Demus, Mr. Pompa-Baldi attributes much of his success to his current teacher, Annamaria Pennella. He is currently on the faculty as Assistant Professor at the Oberlin Conservatory and serves with his wife, pianist Emanuela Friscioni, as artist-in-residence at Cayahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio. "I found Pompa-Baldi’s Mozart beautifully shaped, and his rendition of Prokofiev’s Third Concerto the most spectacular moment of the week." Fort Worth Star-Telegram About the Van Cliburn Competition Every four years, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition brings together approximately thirty young musicians from around the world to celebrate their gifts and compete for a wide variety of prizes, including generous cash awards and numerous concert engagements. The competition is a rigorous and comprehensive examination of every facet of each contestant's musicianship and technical proficiency. All competitors are heard in recital; twelve semifinalists play new works and performances of chamber music; and six finalists perform two concerti with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra under the direction of a major international conductor. It is the task of the distinguished jury to ultimately select the medalists.
The Van Cliburn Amateurs II before reluctantly deciding on a different path, last year's First van CliburnInternational Piano up my hands so much I barely felt like the same pianist. http://www.audiophilia.com/features/cliburnamateurs2.htm
Extractions: Footfalls echo in the memory Down the passage which we did not take Towards the door we never opened Into the rose-garden - T. S. Eliot, " Burnt Norton " For those of us who had once considered careers as classical pianists before reluctantly deciding on a different path, last year's First Van Cliburn International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs (IPCOA) provided a brief but gratifying glimpse into the world we had pushed to one side. The Second IPCOA was originally scheduled for June 2002, but the thundering success of the inaugural competition led to a decision to repeat the contest right away, in June 2000. I reached the semifinals in the 1999 event and had returned home in a state of such euphoria that I had only one worry about the Second competition: could it live up to the first one? Indeed it could. In virtually every way, the 2000 event was even more satisfying than 1999, refreshing and deepening friendships and memories. My own playing had taken a substantial leap forwards during the previous year thanks to the remarkable Phillip Kawin, a teacher at the Manhattan School of Music. I'd started studying with Phillip a few weeks before the 1999 contest; in a matter of months, he had worked a number of major and minor miracles that had freed up my hands so much I barely felt like the same pianist. Phillip treated me with the same care as his students who were budding professionals, occasionally (and endearingly) seeming to forget that music wasn't my career. He would recommend a lengthy out-of-town piano festival, then sigh and say, "This would be a great experience for you, but I do realize you have a job."
Boston Globe Online / Living Arts / Pianist In Tune With pianist in tune with unconventional wisdom. By Ellen Pfeifer, Globe Correspondent,2/10/2003. f the two gold medalists at the Eleventh van cliburn International http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/041/living/Pianist_in_tune_with_unconventional
Klassiknet : Opera Competition contest, although the last van cliburn competition came under fire by leadingAmerican critics when the Parisbased American pianist Frédéric Chiu was http://www.culturekiosque.com/klassik/news/ra1van.htm
Extractions: The six finalists are: Filippo Gamba, 28 (Italy); Jan Gottlieb Jiracek, 24 (Germany); Yakov Kasman, 30 (Russia); Jon Nakamatsu, 28 (United States); Aviram Reichert, 25 (Israel); Katia Skanavi, 25 (Russia). Semi-finalist Stanislav Ioudenitch, 25, of Uzbekistan, was unable to compete after suffering second degree burns to his hand while making tea. Winners will be announced at the Gala Awards Ceremony on Sunday, 8 June at 5 p.m. In addition to receiving cash awards and a recording opportunity, the medalists are offered two years of international concert management by the Van Cliburn Foundation. Concert engagements also are arranged for the other three finalists. The first prize is valued at approximately $250,000.
Transsexual Pianist there are some problems in selling a transsexual pianist to presenters and organization. But Richard Rodzinski, president of the van cliburn Foundation, which http://www.tgguide.com/soapbox/news/042.htm
Extractions: Star-Telegram Classical Music Critic NEW YORK The face of the woman sitting across the table at a midtown Manhattan restaurant is strikingly familiar. The mouth, nose and eyes she bears a resemblance to David Buechner, a concert pianist who won the 1984 Bachauer Competition, was a finalist in Moscow in 1986, and emerged as a promising contender at the Cliburn in 1985 and 1989.
Welcome To Piano.com Cingo, Mariela Albanian working in London as a soloist, accompanist, and sessionpianist. cliburn, van Collins, Finghin - distinguised Irish pianist. http://www.piano.com/pianist/pianist_classical.cfm
Van Cliburn Worldrenowned pianist van cliburn will perform at California State University,Stanislaus at the dedication of the new Bernell and Flora Snider Recital Hall http://www.e-artsnews.com/images/van_cliburn.htm
Extractions: on March 8 at 6 p.m. Ticket information for Mr. Cliburn's performance is available by calling the CSU Stanislaus Department of Development and University Relations Special Events office at (209) 667-3602, starting January 2. Tickets for the concert and reception are $250 per person. Tickets for dinner, preferred concert seating and a post-concert reception are $400 per person. Sponsorships and reserved tables are available by contacting Donna Dami at (209) 667-3643 Part of the University's public arts and lecture series, the Saturday pe rformance will raise money for the University's music program. "This und o ubtedly will be the premier artist ic and cultural event in the Central Valley this year," said Dr. Walter Strong, Vice President for Development and University Relations. "Securing Van Cliburn for a Northern California concert appearance underscores the respect shown for the CSU Stanislaus Music Department, the University's arts and lecture series and the University's overall reputation for excellence."
LIED CENTER TO HOST VAN CLIBURN COMPETITION GOLD MEDAL WINNER, On Monday, April 15, 2002, at 730 p.m., the Lied Center is proud to host this accomplished artist proclaimed a rising keyboard star by The Boston Herald. http://www.unl.edu/lied/Press2002/OlgaKern.doc
Van Cliburn Piano Competition History He said it would be named after van cliburn, as the winner of the Tchaikovsky Eachpianist plays a solo recital in the first round, and twelve advance to the http://www.icfw.org/vc-com-h.htm
Extractions: Questions Van Cliburn is well known for his generous support of the arts, however you may be surprised to know that he did not establish the competition which bears his name. He was, however, the most astonished person present when Dr. Irl Allison announced the establishment of the competition in 1958. Dr. Allison, a music educator, had long desired to launch a competition which would help music student raise the quality of their work. He began by founding the National Guild of Piano Teachers, which used a system of auditions to help teachers and their students assess their progress and proficiency. He dreamed of a prize winning competition and spoke of establishing one from time to time. Then at a dinner honoring Van Cliburn, without any warning, he announced the Guild would sponsor an international quadrennial competition with the unheard-of prize of $10,000! He said it would be named after Van Cliburn, as the winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. The organizer of that dinner, Mrs. Grace Ward Lankford, began working with Dr. Allison immediately since the Fort Worth Piano Teachers Forum had plans to launch a competition as well. The two plans merged, and Mrs. Lankford rolled up her sleeves to recruit community support. By dint of determination, cajolery and sheer pluck, she enlisted the support of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and Texas Christian University. Piano teachers shared their enthusiasm as volunteer workers in a vacant room at the Boswell Dairy. Soon townsfolk, music lovers, and civic leaders all donated time, stuffing envelopes, licking stamps and carting bundles of mail off to the post office. These volunteers laid the foundation of what has become a world-renowned competition.
Van Cliburn Only 29 people were invited to the party, among them was the great pianistVan cliburn. This motivated me to write a little bit about him. http://www.geocities.com/pianorecital/cliburn.html
Extractions: I heard on the news that on Wednesday, President Bush and President Putin arrived in Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Putin were invited to a private party in President Bush's ranch house. (check out the details at http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20011115/pl/us_russia_86.html ). Only 29 people were invited to the party, among them was the great pianist Van Cliburn. This motivated me to write a little bit about him. He is probably one of the most humble pianists of his stature ever. There is only confidence in his character, and not a single hint of pride. With his success in Moscow, he began a peace mission, attempting to unite the people of Russia and America through music, in the middle of the Cold War. His repertoire focused on the Romantic era and Russian composers. He has a big, warm sound. His fingering is very clean and his touch is passionate. His interpretation, unlike most of his contemporaries, is gentle and reserved. However, he has been criticized for a lack of variety, both in repertoire and in interpretation. In 1962, he established the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Texas, which has become the most prestigious American piano competition. It is held every four years, and the next one will be the 11th competition. Due to some criticism and personal issues, Cliburn withdrew from the concert stage in 1978. He made his return in 1987. Though not as overwhelming as the return of Horowitz, it was an event for celebration for music fans around the world. His return, again, was for the peace between Russia and America, as his return debut was a Reagan-invited Whitehouse recital for the visiting Soviet Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev was so impressed, that he invited Cliburn to give a concert in Russia in 1989. Today, Cliburn stands again as the peace and friendship ambassador between Russia and America. Van Cliburn remains one of the most prominent pianists in the world.
Extractions: Star-Telegram staff writer Saturday, Feb 8: Dreary winter weather outside - and, inside, the five-member Cliburn audition jury, just two weeks after finishing up the European sessions in Moscow, starts a grueling schedule of 41 pianists packed into seven days in New York. The auditions are at Rockefeller University, a tiny east side institution north of the United Nations. No freshmen, frats or football here: a faculty of 150 interacts with 150 graduate-level students in medical science. Principal benefactors of the university include Fort Worth's Anne T. and Robert M. Bass. The 450-seat Caspary Auditorium has no backstage, and performers enter by walking down the center aisle. But the sound is reasonably clear and suitable for solo piano music. Still, lovely as Liszt's "Dante" Sonata and his Sonata in B minor both are, hearing both twice in one day can test the affection of even the most devoted Lisztian. Unruly preschoolers on the front row during one performance, and a competitor who blithely presents a program running a good 14 minutes over the 40-minute time limit, don't improve the day, either.
Extractions: I managed to get into the 2002 competition, and I am glad I did, because it was week of pure fun, and it made me learn to play a few more piano pieces better than ever before. There were all kinds of interesting people there, as well as friends I met at the 2000 competition. The friendly Van Cliburn Foundation staff and volunteers really know how to put on a competition! They had everything well organized, kept us pianists calm backstage, arranged for great parties and dinners, and filled the week with such interesting events that I hardly got any sleep. Some of the jury gave me very encouraging comments afterwards as well. My thanks goes out to all involved! During the week, I kept my digital camera very busy. You can see the pictures here If anyone needs a high resolution version of any of them or a printed copy, just email me at viktors@berstis.com . I don't have enough web space to hold all of the pictures at full resolution. I also have videos of the finals and part of the semifinals (I didn't bring enough tape for them). Perhaps I will put these on DVD(s) along with the pictures to make a souvenir disk, if people say they would be interested in this. Here are several news articles I collected during the event. Please send me any others you may know of so I can add them to the list.
Van Cliburn - A Portrait (1966) OVERVIEW, SYNOPSIS A fascinating Bell Telephone Hour profile of the great pianistVan cliburn. cliburn plays the finale of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/VanCliburnAPortrait-1095833/about.php
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Kennedy Center: For van cliburn, An Early Crescendo With the Cold War Looming, PianistWarmed the World Stage Article from The Washington Post (12/02/01). http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors/history/honoree/clib
Extractions: Pianist...born July 12, 1934...Shreveport, Louisiana He has been called an American hero, hailed as one of the most persuasive ambassadors of American culture as well as one of the greatest pianists in the history of music. With his historic 1958 victory in the first Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow at the height of the Cold War, Van Cliburn tore down cultural barriers years ahead of glasnost and perestroika, reaching out across political frontiers with a universal message all could greet with joy: the message of beautiful music. Cliburn was the first musician ever honored with a ticker-tape parade in New York City, a true hero's welcome and a show of gratitude for an American victory on the heels of the Soviet Union's launching of Sputnik. Again reaching across cultural borders, Cliburn invited the Russian conductor Kirill Kondrashin to come to New York and reprise the performances that had earned the young American the gold medal in Moscow. Cliburn's recording of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 with Kondrashin became the first classical album to reach platinum status and has gone on to sell more than three million copies.
Israeli Pianist To Perform At UW-Eau Claire Oct. 6 EAU CLAIRE Israeli pianist Aviram Reichert, bronze medalist in the 10th van CliburnInternational Piano Competition, will perform in concert Wednesday, Oct http://www.uwec.edu/newsbureau/release/past/1999/99-09/092299Reichert.html
Extractions: MAILED: Sept. 22, 1999 Israeli pianist Aviram Reichert, bronze medalist in the 10th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, will perform in concert Wednesday, Oct. 6, at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The University Artists Series will present the performance at 7:30 p.m. in Schofield Auditorium. Reichert won the prestigious Van Cliburn bronze medal in 1997. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram called his performance "a miracle of voicing, expression and intellect. His perfect command of detail approaches the level of genius; no fine point escapes his notice, even as note by note he builds the total magnificent structure." Only months before, Reichert received the top prize in the first Dong-A International Piano Competition in Seoul, South Korea. His earlier accomplishments include top prizes at the 1995 International Music Competition of Japan and at the 1995 Epinal Competition. A resident of Tel Aviv, the 27-year-old Reichert is a frequent soloist with all the leading orchestras in his native country. He also has played and recorded with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and the Dessau Symphony Orchestra and given recitals in France and Germany. His prize-winning participation in competitions in Japan and South Korea brought Reichert engagements throughout the Far East; the Van Cliburn award has taken him to concert stages throughout the U.S.
