(Cliburn)Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 Mvt II

[kevinluu2003]

Dang, it seems like he's not even looking at where the piano keys are. :)

[boonyboony100]

I'm sure that less than one per cent of Americans could have a conversation with somebody in the audience, but music is an international language :P

[WMJCPA]

What amazes me the most about this performance, is to consider that this was 1958, the height of the Cold War. This young Texan goes to Moscow, and literally captures the hearts of the people. This is utterly fantastic. Forget the scoring, the techniques and abilities, this man bridged a gap as big as the ocean. It was unthinkable that an American could win a Tchaikovsky competition in the Soviet Union, and that is exactly what he did. Represents all that is great about America.

[TheTherese3]

should be 6 billion hits

[RandogMan]

does anyone else think Cliburn looks a little like j.f.k?

[altareggo]

@RandogMan I;d say more like Bobby Kennedy.... he probably plays the piano better than anyone in that whole family, though xD.

[nocturne163]

Though i've already commented and also got the DVD finally,

i could watch this over and over again, soo beautiful, sensitive and filigree,

wonderful and great performance!!

[AzumangaRox]

That was so touching, and Kirill's showmanship gave me goosebumps.Just wonderful.

[w343vaughn]

I'm sure less than a quarter of the audience could have a conversation with Van Cliburn, but there is no language barier with music. People of all nationalities can appreisiate this.

[AzureBluee]

So touching... beautiful. Just beautiful. :)

[lovemetu]

I always think of the film 'The Music Lovers' where this music is played. It shows him at peace in the with his sister, brother in law and children in the countryside, and also with his wife to be in a carriage with horses, then all of a sudden his homosexual life returns to his thoughts and dreams and ruins the tranquillity of his life.

Strange that another gay man in Van Cliburn seems to make such connection with this music to give perhaps the finest performance there has ever been of it.

[DonatellaVee]

He's genius!

[meatpaw]

I agree with graymagic Va\n Cliburn is that rare combination of amazing technician and musicality beyond measure. I have heard and seen several performances of this work, and IMHO none compares, He is not only performing with his head but with his heart,. The first time I heard this performance I was 9 years old and I never tire of it.

[skimask777]

That's the longest set of fingers I've seen playing a piano. But musically, the man is great.

[graymagic1]

Van Cliburns mother, Rildia Bee O'Bryan, was a pupil of Arthur Friedheim, who was a pupil of Franz Liszt. No wonder then that Cliburn looks so at ease, more like he is giving a concert, than competing in an International Piano Competition. If you ever wondered how Franz Liszt sounded in real life, I'd wager it was a lot like Van Cliburn.

[OrangeSodaKing]

@graymagic1 This is Cliburn performing a concert in 1962, four years after he won the competition (in 1958). But I'll bet you anything that you're right: he was just as at ease in the competition as you see here! :)

[graymagic1]

I always flooors me to hear people judge perfomances, especially one as fine as this one, as if they could do it better. I hear many pianists who can play all the notes, who can play fast, who can play powerfully, but it is a rarity when you witness musicality on the level of this performance. As easy as it is to forget, this was a competition environment, which makes it all the more extraordinary There was no doubt he deserved the gold medal he won.

[graymagic1]

I always flooors me to hear people judge perfomances, especially one as fine as this one, as if they could do it better. I hear many pianist who can play all the notes, who can play fast, who can play powerfully, but it is a rarity when you witness musicality on the level of this performance. As easy as it is to forget, this was a competition environment, which makes it all the more extraordinary There was no doubt he deserved the gold medal he won.

[9samten]

Played a tad faster than I'm used to but very nice.

[graymagic1]

Van Cliburn has a rare combination of Technical Virtuosity and an incredible musicality that truly brings the composition to life. Sheer technique cannot a concerto make. If I had a time machine, this competition performance would be one of my stops.

[nabnutsy]

gosh, i remind that when i was a kid i locked my self up in the closet with my cd player and listen to this song all the time and to other classical music. i don't know why but the closet was the perfect place to listen in peace.

[mountainmanchuck]

5:15

...whoopsie.

[MGibsonian]

nice ear !!!!!!!!!!!!

[JoeCool1986]

@mountainmanchuck It was a very jazzy/bluesy addition. I liked it haha :)

(But it also really surprised me -- it almost seemed intentional since it was so obvious and at such a slow part)

[uhartchristian]

nobody mention here gilels and richter..... strange as both have done very strong versions of this concerto.

that does not minimize the interpretation of cliburn.

i like this movement specially with him.... the 3rd movement could have been with more punch and power. but ok.

its a wonderful concert and cliburn rests in memory with this competition. would have liked to hear William Kapell with this concert.....

[princenosiatajansen]

tchaik. would prefer cliburn because he shows the romantic control. the emotion is just in the soul. sometimes you see it, that he cant conrol it.

ivo poge. is a clown.......and martha is well. but... i dont know. van is much much better. technique...everything

[lovemetu]

exactly right,please also read my comments on movement 3 ,van cliburn is the master ,unmatched !!

[AzureBluee]

beautiful. I love the second mvt.

[berlinzerberus]

how terrific in technique and the way to play the piano very similar to ivo pogorelich.

no wonder what a political issue it was when an american won the moscow tschaikowski competition during the cold war period.

[princenosiatajansen]

:D:D

martha and algerich.....

i dont know but I LOVE van cluburn. dont know why....

he and artur rubinstein

[eltachimetro]

es la pinche mamada XD

[Liebromeistal]

Argerich/Horowitz both play this concerto with better technique, drive, and passion. Van Cliburn always seems to be holding back.

[nocturne163]

well ok , this is your opinion ...

but to me van Cliburn has a very special kind of emotion , very sensitive but brilliant too !

and who knows, perhaps Tchaikovsky , the genius , would have prefered this ?...

( my opinion !)

[lovemetu]

you always give the same comment !! But not many agree !!

[lovemetu]

you always say the same thing,sorry I dont agree with you,to me van cliburn is a different class ,superb ,priviliege to listen to !!

[nocturne163]

hi my friend , nice to meet you here !

and you're so right , it's a pleasure, to listen to him ^^

[donboia]

This video is precious. Thank you for posting it!

[asianhugh]

This guy is a freak of nature. No one should be allowed to play this good....

[nocturne163]

just beautiful , can't stop watching this  :)))

[yunsoooo]

"from pain ,,,the beauty comes!!" Tchaikovsky.

[nocturne163]

this is really great and touching, never heard this phrase before,

i love Tchaikovsky , he's the genius , this movement is just beautiful , Van Cliburn is a brilliant and emotional artist :)))

[Sim882]

Very well played, but let's face it - this concerto is only about the enormous, unrivaled 1st movement.

[lynndelano]

Unrivaled 3rd Movement, you mean, of course!!!

[Sim882]

The third movement is good, but i don't think the 3 movements are that cohesive (say compared to Beethoven's Emporer concerto), and also, the emotion in the third movement is a bit one dimensional.

In contrast, the first movement has extraordinary emotional range: the internal conflict in the piano, reflection, self-doubt, yet combative assertiveness is all there, + the reconcilliation between the warring parties.

[lynndelano]

I agree about the cohesiveness and I really don't connect them in any way; like 3 different titles, altogether. I LOVE your interpretation and listened after reading it. AWESOME. Sorry, though, I am so in love with the third movement, that half the time it is the music playing in my head during a slow day!! One dimensional is not untrue or the worst adjective for it but it is still just such a wonderful, powerful movement....and obviously my favorite, especially by Van Cliburn.

[Sim882]

Thanks.

Yes I like the final movement don't get me wrong. It's just as I said the 1st movement has extreme (and greater) emotional depth in my opinion.

Both Tchaikovskys 2 great concertos have great movements, but unfortunately don't have the cohesiveness of Beethoven or Brahm's Concertos

[gzaenker]

Sim - you can't listen to music like that with your intellect. What's wrong with you? Try to close your eyes, and listen to this with your whole body, not just your ears. Can you do that?

[nocturne163]

no , only about all it's beauty , you mean ;)

[lynndelano]

Hey ....not nearly enough hits on this piece. Start moving it, people!!!!

Yes, our new idol also; and this family does not take on idols very readily.

[nocturne163]

He's my Idol, what an amazing and emotional interpretation , love this !))))

[atralfalgar]

great video !

[ArturoAlejandroS]

One of the best adagios ever.Too beautiful,it sound like an old russian tale of childrens.

[akbarbaby]

Kondrashin - what a conductor!

[AndreRieuFans]

I feel as if I am in his hands and he is dancing with me across the keyboard.

I heard Van Cliburn on npr interview where he said he plays every night, when no one hears .. and I thought how just to sit outside, as to not disturb him..but to hear...to hear his heart as it sings to us via the piano....

[lynndelano]

Oh my God, I have thought the very same thing.

[krino2lino]

snif* i have search this song for 8 years:'(

it reminds me of a lake deep in the forest with full of fantasy

[jhardknox]

@krino2lino really? me too!

[bourbakis]

thanks for this one, but have we waited long to deserve part I as well? :D

[mainlymuzik]

The thought of having to cut the first mvt just prevents me from doing it. LOL

Will upload soon, I promise.

[bourbakis]

Have been enjoying many fine posts of yours. Look fwd to the 1st mvmt. And hope one of these days, utube can afford more disc spaces to allow longer clips. You'd think after google paid them that much money, they'd have it all.

Anyway, thanks!

[Berceuse59]

I'm obsessed with his interpretation , sensitive and brilliant !

[Kamy333]

:)xoxo

[Berceuse59]

What an emotional performance, he is amazing and charming , love Tchaikovsky and this concerto a lot ,makes me feel wonderful !

[ZZoe77]

Making faces and all he was still gorgeous and boy, so talented... Nobody comes even close! Thanks for posting such a gem and thank you Van Cliburn for being the sensitive, passionate, extraordinary pianist that you are, and I do think you are beautiful still.