Cliburn Plays Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1

By his 23rd year, Van Cliburn had gained the world's attention. His victory in Moscow at the quadrennial International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition coincided with the crescendo of the Cold War. The subsequent RCA recording of Cliburn playing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 proved the first classical album to go platinum. It was also my favorite recording as a young girl. Yesterday, President Obama awarded Van Cliburn the National Medal of Arts.