Kaban ni D_BystandeR: KINSA SI VAN CLIBURN???

Van Cliburn, the internationally celebrated pianist whose triumph at a 1958 Moscow competition helped thaw the cold war and launched a spectacular career that made him the rare classical musician to enjoy rock-star status, died Wednesday, February 27 after a fight with bone cancer. He was 78. Cliburn died at his home in Forth Worth, Texas, surrounded by his loved ones, said his publicist and longtime friend Mary Lou Falcone. The Grammy winner had made his last public appearance in September at the 50th anniversary of the prestigious piano competition in Forth Worth named in his honor. To a roaring standing ovation, he saluted many past contestants, the orchestra and the city, saying: "Never forget: I love you all from the bottom of my heart forever." "His legacy is one of being a great pianist to all who knew and loved him. Van is iconic." said Carla Kemp Thompson, chairwoman of the Van Cliburn Foundation, which hosts the competition. "(We) join the international community in mourning the loss of a true giant." Cliburn skyrocketed to fame when he won the first  International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at age 23 in 1958, six months after the Soviets launch of Sputnik embarrassed the U.S. and propelled the world into the space age.

He triumphantly returned to a New York City ticker tape parade - the first ever for a classical musician - and a Time magazine cover proclaimed him "The Texan who conquered Russia." But the win also proved the power of the artsbringing unity in the midst of strong rivalry. Despite the tension between the nations, Cliburn became a hero to music-loving Soviets who clamored to see him to perform and Premier Nikita Kruschev reportedly gave the go-ahead for the judges to honor a foreigner: "Is Cliburn the best? Then give him first prize." In the years that followed, Cliburn's popularity soared and the young man from the small east Texas town of Kilgore sold out concerts, caused riots when spotted in public and even prompted an Elvis Presley fan club to change its name to his. His recording of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concert No. 1 with Russia conductor Kirill Kondrashin became the first classical album to reach platinum status. Time magazine's 1958 cover story quoted a friend saying Cliburn could become "the first man in history to be a Horowitz, Liberace and Presley all rolled into one." Cliburn performed for royalty, heads of state in Europe, Asia and South America, and for every U.S. president since Harry Truman. He was also the guest of Imelda Marcos in Malacanang palace when her husband, Ferdinand Marcos, ruled the Philippines with iron hand. Cliburn was born on July 12, 1934. He started his piano lesson at the age of 3 under the guidance of his mother who was well-versed with Russian musical notes.

(Bug-os ang  pasalamat sa KAHAYAG ngadto sa magtatampo nga iyang gikutlo sa Yahoo News   nga si JOHNNY LOVE. Nagtakuban siya sa pangalan, "D_BystandeR".  Natawo siya sa Sugbo apan anaa na karon manimuyo sa Illinois sa tinipong nasod sa Amerika. Ang kusog nga koneksyon sa kasayuran pinaagi sa internet kanunayng naghaling sa iyang kadasig  pagtuki sa mga nagbukalbukal nga hisgutanan dinhi sa atong nataran. Usa siya ka magsusulat nga gradwado sa kursong komersiyo padulong sa pagka accountant sa University of San Carlos kaniadtong tuig 1961.  Nahimo siyang miyembro sa usa ka hugpong sa mga batan-ong magsusulat nga gitawag ug STUDENT PRESS.  Nahimo usab siyang   Associate Editor sa basahon  USC-JPIAN sa tuig 1962-63. Magtatampo usab siya isip magsusulat sa nasudnong magasin,  "Philippines Free Press" ug sa mga nag-unang peryodiko dinhi sa dakbayan sa Sugbo sa lunhaw pa ang iyang pangedaron. Nahimo siyang mamumuo sa usa ka pribadong kompaniya sa dakbayan sa Sugbo, ESCAÑO LINES, sulod sa napulo ug duha (12) ka tuig  dayon niyang tapon  ngadto sa NAPOCOR  ug nahimong kawani sa kagamhanan  sulod sa bayente dos (22) ka tuig. Niadtong tunga-tungang bahin sa tuig 2000, nilalin siya ngadto sa tinipong nasod sa Amerika ug sulod sa napulo (10) ka tuig, nagtrabaho siya sa  buhatan sa kagamhanan sa nasod sama  sa  UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE (USPS).  Karon sa pangedaron nga 68,  gihuptan gihapon niya ang walay pagkutat nga kadasig ug walay busganan nga kaikag sa pagpaambit sa iyang nahuptang abilidad  ug kabatid sa panulat.  Dili niya mapugngan ang kaugalingon sa pagpaambit sa iyang mga hunahuna labi na kon molambigit kini ug hisgotanan nga makadani sa iyang mga mata.)