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.
