Moscow Nights: The Van Cliburn Story-How One Man and His Piano Transformed the Cold War (56 page)

Photo Section

Van at age nine and later as a young professional concert pianist.
(Courtesy of Cliburn Foundation)

Van with his teacher Rosina Lhévinne around 1954, the year he graduated from Juilliard.
(Courtesy of Juilliard School Archives)

The Soviet and international communist leadership at Stalin’s funeral in March 1953, atop the newly renamed Lenin-Stalin Mausoleum in Red Square. At the microphone is the new premier, Georgy Malenkov. Left of Malenkov are Kliment Voroshilov, soon to become head of state; reinstated foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov; and Nikolai Bulganin, soon to become minister of defense. To the right of Malenkov are Nikita Khrushchev, who retained his Politburo membership but had been stripped of special responsibilities, and feared security chief Lavrenty Beria. At far right is former and future trade minister Anastas Mikoyan; third from right is vicepremier Lazar Kaganovich. Among the other mourners are representatives of foreign communist parties, including Chinese premier Zhou Enlai, fifth from right.
(Keystone-France/Getty)

The last Romantic. Van readies himself to play in the finals of the Tchaikovsky Competition as conductor Kirill Kondrashin watches. Behind him is a giant portrait of Tchaikovsky.

Van with celebrated pianist (and rogue juror) Sviatoslav Richter during the Tchaikovsky Competition. In the background is Van’s devoted interpreter, Henrietta Belayeva.

Van and chairman of the Tchaikovsky Competition piano jury Emil Gilels embrace as American competitor Norman Shetler looks on.
(Courtesy of Emil Gilels Foundation)

Van receives his gold medal from Dmitri Shostakovich in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory on April 14, 1958.
(Nikolai Rakhmanov/TASS)

Premier Khrushchev congratulates Van at a Kremlin reception on April 14, 1958. Interpreter Viktor Sukhodrev is between them; at right is Jane Thompson, wife of the American ambassador.
(AP)

From left to right, medalists Naum Shtarkman, Van, Liu Shikun, and Lev Vlassenko.
(Courtesy of Irina Vlassenko)

Van with Rildia Bee and Harvey Cliburn at Idlewild Airport on Van’s return from Moscow.
(AP)

Snatching a bite and a haircut in Van’s suite at the Pierre.
(LIFE/Getty)