Around Moscow
In 1958, Van Cliburn conquered millions...
-- Ever since you won the Tchaikovsky competition in 1958 you have been an idol here in Russia. Russians were absolutely in love with you back in the 1950s, and still everybody knows your name here. What can you say about Russians?A. -- What can I say about Russians? I love Russians, you know that. I can remember I told president Putin in 2004, when he graciously gave me the Order of Friendship, that the most important thing to me, the gift that Russia gave me was their love. And to be wanted here is something that I feel is the greatest gift that I have.
Q. -- I know there is a story that you dreamed of coming to Moscow ever since you were a child.
A. -- When I was five my parents gave me a children’s history book of the world. Certainly I came to the photograph of the Kremlin. And I saw the Church of Saint Basil, the Cathedral of Intercession. And my heart missed a beat. I said: “Mummy, daddy, take me there.” I could not believe that
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