FORT WORTH, Texas — The May 19, 1958, cover of Time magazine features an artist's rendering of 23-year-old pianist Van Cliburn with a yellow banner across the top left corner that reads "The Texan Who Conquered Russia."
The moniker refers to the legendary pianist's victory at the first International Tchaikovsky Competition, but it also hints at his ability to capture the hearts of Muscovite listeners — including former Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev — with his expert piano-playing before the backdrop of the escalating Cold War.
The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition said it's invoking Cliburn's legacy in its decision to permit Russian pianists to audition for the competition this year, in spite of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
The Cliburn condemned the invasion as "reprehensible and heartbreaking" in a statement, adding the organization "stands firmly against and condemns this tyranny."
However, "The Russian-born pianists who have applied for the Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition are not officials of their government, nor is their participation in the Cliburn state-sponsored," the organization said.
Since the invasion began, airlines from around the world have been imposing bans on air travel to Russia. During his State of the Union address Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced a ban on Russian aircraft in U.S. airspace.
Cliburn spokesperson Maggie Estes said the organization worked with Russian participants to arrange travel. Participants were also required to receive WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines before the competition.
"As of now, we have hopes that most of them will get here," she said. Auditions begin on Sunday.
Of the 72 pianists participating in next week's auditions, 15 are Russian-born. The competition takes place from June 2 to 18 at the Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU and Bass Performance Hall.
One applicant wrote, "I pray we give music a chance to be the ambassador of peace and love it has always been."
"We look forward to hearing each of our participants do just that," the organization said.
