I want to be in America
In a few weeks’ time I will fly to Ft. Worth, Texas, to attend the finals of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Held every four years, and celebrating its 60th anniversary, the competition has a distinguished track record of success in awarding its top prizes to pianists who have gone on to enjoy brilliant careers (among them Cristina Ortiz, Olga Kern and Beatrice Rana, all previous cover stars of Pianist). The competition was named in honour of the American pianist who – after a heated debate among the jurors – won Gold at the first Tchaikovsky Competition held in Moscow in 1958. The 23-year-old Texan captured the hearts of Russians and Americans alike: he became the first (and probably only) musician ever to receive a ticker-tape parade on his return…