Pianist Van Cliburn wowed the Soviet Union in a Tchaikovsky competition in April 1958—when the Cold War was at its peak. Isacoff recreates the events that brightened the bleakness of that time as manifested in both the weather and international politics. Narrator Stefan Rudnicki adds warmth and humor to the story of Cliburn’s achievement. He gives Cliburn's dialogue a gentle Texas drawl. Isacoff goes beyond the competition with a look at Soviet life, in particular the popularity of American jazz and film, and the Soviet politicization of culture. Cliburn's life as a gay man, and a quickly dropped Soviet investigation of it, also feature in the story. This biography of an international sensation brings listeners back to the Cold War era. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
April of 1958-the Iron Curtain was at its heaviest, and the outcome of the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition seemed preordained. Nonetheless, as star musicians from across the globe descended on Moscow, an unlikely favorite emerged: Van Cliburn, a polite, lanky Texan whose passionate virtuosity captured the Russian spirit.
This is the story of what unfolded that spring-for Cliburn and the other competitors, jurors, party officials, and citizens of the world who were touched by the outcome. It is a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most remarkable events in musical history, filled with political intrigue and personal struggle as artists strove for self-expression and governments jockeyed for prestige. And, at the core of it all: the value of artistic achievement, the supremacy of the heart, and the transcendent freedom that can be found, through music, even in the darkest moments of human history.
April of 1958-the Iron Curtain was at its heaviest, and the outcome of the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition seemed preordained. Nonetheless, as star musicians from across the globe descended on Moscow, an unlikely favorite emerged: Van Cliburn, a polite, lanky Texan whose passionate virtuosity captured the Russian spirit.
This is the story of what unfolded that spring-for Cliburn and the other competitors, jurors, party officials, and citizens of the world who were touched by the outcome. It is a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most remarkable events in musical history, filled with political intrigue and personal struggle as artists strove for self-expression and governments jockeyed for prestige. And, at the core of it all: the value of artistic achievement, the supremacy of the heart, and the transcendent freedom that can be found, through music, even in the darkest moments of human history.
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Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940169577655 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Blackstone Audio, Inc. |
| Publication date: | 04/18/2017 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
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