Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 1 (Van Cliburn)

Information

Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

• Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23, TH 55 (2026 Remastered Edition)

Van Cliburn, piano

Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra

Kirill Kondrashin, conductor

Date: 1958

Label: Musical Concepts Opus

_____________________

Musical Concepts Opus presents the digital release of recording debut of Van Cliburn, showcasing the earliest recording by Van Cliburn. Following his triumph at the International Tchaikovsky Competition, Cliburn was honored with a ticker-tape parade in New York City and signed an exclusive contract with RCA Victor. Although his RCA debut featured Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, this release contains an earlier Moscow recording made for the label that became Melodiya. Newly remastered by Urlicht AudioVisual, the recording was previously rarely heard outside the former Soviet Union.

Van Cliburn (1934–2013) was an American pianist who rose to international fame after winning the inaugural International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Trained by his mother and later at the Juilliard School, he gained early recognition with major orchestras. His 1958 victory, supported by Nikita Khrushchev, became a cultural milestone during the Cold War and earned him a ticker-tape parade in New York City. His recording of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 achieved unprecedented commercial success. Though he later reduced performances, Cliburn remained an influential figure, with his legacy honored through the Van Cliburn Foundation and its prestigious piano competition.

High Resolution 24-bit / 44.1 kHz