Van Cliburn (1934-2013) was an American pianist whose victory at the 1958 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow made him a Cold War cultural phenomenon. He became one of the most famous American classical musicians of his era.

In the Pristine catalogue he appears in Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Prokofiev and Rachmaninov concerto recordings with conductors including Kirill Kondrashin, Fritz Reiner and Walter Hendl.

Cliburn’s playing combined broad sonority, lyric warmth and a grand Romantic manner that audiences found immediately compelling. His best performances have sweep and open-hearted scale.

His historical importance goes beyond pianism. Cliburn became, briefly and improbably, a piano-playing diplomatic comet.