In Moscow

Van Cliburn has always been one of my favorite pianists. This footage shows one of the pieces of music that he is most famous for and that is the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1. His technique and ability to play this piece almost flawless is a tribute to the United States and of course to Russia with his rapport with the leaders of Russia. Kiril Kondrashin is a super conductor and uses his hands to achieve what he wants from the Moscow Conservatory Orchestra. The Beethoven piece is very good, but it pales proportion to the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto with these two grand artists.

This is a great recording of a great pianist who captivated the world when won Moscow in the 60's. Great CD!! Buy it is worth the $$

I bought a Van Cliburn CD from Amazon some years back at random and had never heard of him then. Since then, I have listened to various interpretations from other famous concert pianists and still like Van Cliburn best. This DVD displays his youthful brilliance on the piano and the great warmth he shows the Russians in the inspiring most famous performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 that effectively launched his career. His enthusiasm in embracing the Russian people and even learning some Russian words endeared him to the world. I would have never guessed that this episode took place during the heart of the Cold War.

I love watching Van Cliburn play the piano. How deeply he feels the music and plays with such brilliance! In my opinion, he was one of the greatest pianists ever to walk this earth. This DVD isn't the best quality (the recording was done in Moscow in the early 1960's), but it doesn't matter - the brilliance of Van Cliburn's playing very much shines through.

Before ordering this DVD, I assumed I was going to receive a video of the triumphant 1958 Tchaikovsky Competition which Van Cliburn so famously won. It's not. This DVD was filmed on his return to Russia in 1962. But it's beautifully played and well worth having.

I haven't watched the performance of the Beethoven yet, but, judging from the Tchaikovsky, while the audio is good, the video quality is strictly mediocre. The manufacturer, VAI, makes no claim as to remastering the existing tapes, so what we get is what was broadcasted in the 60s: a piece of history, but not a piece de resistance! Don't get me wrong, though: It's WONDERFUL seeing Van Cliburn playing--particularly observing his facial expressions (one of which is depicted on the cover)--but,if you've been wondering if this is a visually sharp recording,it's not.

A very nice concert in black/white though production of the sound and video quality is not very good... however, given this was converted from tapes from years ago, its probably as good as it gets.

This Van Cliburn recording of Tchaikovsky's 1st piano concerto catches a historic moment. An American winning the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow was unheard of at the time. The sound quality is not 2014 quality. However, the technique and passion Van Cliburn put into his performance that day is there and it is palatable. He played his heart out. I have newer recordings of this piece. None match the intensity of what happened back on that date in Moscow.

Ces gravures de Van Cliburn, et qui sont celles de Melodya sont différentes de celles que RCA a regroupées dans son beau et gros coffret consacré au pianiste. Passionnant.

Gleich vorher gesagt, nichts gegen Van Cliburn, er ist ein grandioser Pianist mit einem schon traumhaft schönen Fingerspiel. Es lohnt sich wirklich zu zuschauen, mit welchem Können die Finger über die Tasten rasen. Genial ! Aber alles andere ist nur Grauen. Ein Flügel, der klingt wie ein altes Kneipenklavier, die Saiten klirren entsätzlich, eine Stimmung scheint der Flügel seit Jahren nicht mehr erlebt zu haben. Die Moskauer Philharmoniker spielen schlechter als ein Provinzorchester, der Dirigent hat kein Tempigefühl und versucht nicht einmal, wenigstens etwas auf den Pianisten einzugehen. Die DVD sollte man sich wirklich nur aus Liebe und Verehrung für Van Cliburn zulegen, ansonsten kann man sich auch in eine Geisterbahn setzen.

Ok

La versión de Van Cliburn de la Rapsodia sobre un tema de Paganini es sencillamente fenomenal, diría yo que es realmente lo que vale la pena de este CD, sin embargo, la versión del Concierto 2 para piano de Brahms, deja mucho que desear, en definitiva existen muchas mejores versiones de este concierto, por esa razón, la opinión está dividida.

Simply the best playing I have ever heard. There were passages that were a revelation, not only the piano part, but the orchestra's as well. Nothing is obvious, everything is thoughtful, the accuracy and technique are quite staggering. Second only to Rachmaninov, himself, and the sound is, of course, superior. Quite wonderful. I've now bought just about anything of Cliburn's that I can lay my hands on.