Van Cliburn: Concert Pianist. Film by Peter Rosen

Peter Rosen walks in the footsteps of American pianist Harvey Lavan “Van” Cliburn, who—at the height of the Cold War—took first prize at the inaugural edition of the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958. The 23-year-old came home to a hero’s welcome, complete with a ticker-tape parade in New York City, and embarked on an internationally renowned concert and recording career that would span decades.

The film is an archival treasure trove, including personal material provided by the Cliburn family and rarely seen performance footage. Documentarian Peter Rosen met with family and associates of the pianist, including Cliburn’s mother Rildia Bee O’Bryan Cliburn, actress Arlene Dahl, pianist Gary Graffman—a fellow first-prize winner of the prestigious, now-defunct Leventritt Competition—and announcer Martin Bookspan, who speaks about Cliburn’s stratospheric popularity in the U.S. after his victory in Moscow.

Films are free to the public, but seating is limited. Tickets will be available at the front desk of the museum starting at 10 am on the day of each screening, or pre-register the day of screening at kalamazoomuseum.org.