Pianist is honored for charity in Russia
Published: September 21, 2004
Putin thanks Cliburn for both his performance and friendship.
President Vladimir Putin awarded acclaimed U.S. pianist Van Cliburn with an Order of Friendship and thanked him for dedicating a charity concert to victims of recent terrorist attacks in Russia. Cliburn was to play a concert today in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory in memory of the more than 330 children and adults killed in this month’s siege of the school in Beslan.
“This is a token of recognition of your personal contribution to the Russian-American cultural relations and of your merits in strengthening mutual trust and under-
standing between our two peoples.”
President Vladimir Putin
Cliburn, 70, accepted the award, saying it showed Russia “has truly recognized and received my deep love and lifetime devotion.”
In 1958, at 23, Cliburn won the first Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition held in Moscow and has since performed around the world.
“Dear President … I am very grateful to you. I love you and Madame (Putin), I love the Russian language, I love Russia!”
Van Cliburn (speaking in Russian)
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