GREENSBORO & CHARLOTTE, NC (August 23, 2016) – Steinway Piano Gallery – Greensboro and Charlotte are proud to announce the kick-off of a regional tour to showcase the personal Steinway & Sons piano of Van Cliburn- one of classical music’s most revered artists. The stunning Model D, Serial #443530, was a favorite of Mr. Cliburn’s and accompanied him to the great stages of the world for some of his most memorable performances. The piano will make appearances in the Triad and Charlotte: it will be available for viewing and playing by appointment, and it will be used in performances by music students, concert artists, and competition winners. The goal of the tour is to make the iconic piano available to be played by a diverse group of musicians—from young students to seasoned professionals.
Mr. Cliburn’s piano was completed in 1976 at the Steinway & Sons factory in Astoria, New York. It was chosen to be one of Steinway’s famed Concert & Artist piano inventory, where it received its new moniker: CD 375. It quickly became a favorite of Cliburn’s, and he purchased it for his own collection at the first opportunity. Although Van Cliburn owned many Steinway pianos, CD 375 was played by him as much or more than any in his collection over the years.
“Having the Van Cliburn piano in the Piedmont area is very special,” said Mark Love, co-owner of Steinway Piano Gallery – Greensboro and Charlotte. “We’re thrilled to provide piano lovers with the opportunity to not only hear performances on this notable instrument, but also to have the chance play it themselves. The piano is a piece of American and world history.”
The Van Cliburn piano will tour the Triad during the month of September with four unique events:
* Saturday, Sept. 10, 1:00 p.m. High Point University Piano Competition finalists Yi Yang Chen, Angie Zhang, and Phuong Nguyen perform selections from their competition pieces on the Van Cliburn piano. Hayworth Fine Arts Center, Pauline Theatre, High Point University, High Point.
* Saturday, Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m. Steinway Artist Andrew von Oeyen with the Winston-Salem Symphony, Robert Moody, conductor. Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2. R.J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium, Winston-Salem.
* Friday, Sept. 23, 7:00 p.m. Greensboro Day School, the Triad Institute for Young Musicians. In addition to special student lectures presented by Steinway Piano Gallery – Charlotte’s Mark Love on Van Cliburn and the political impact of his historic 1958 Tchaikovsky Competition win in Moscow, Greensboro Day School will present pre-college students from the area performing works from Cliburn’s historic Moscow repertoire. Also on display: recorded Van Cliburn performances showcased on the Steinway Spirio player piano system. Admission to pre-college student performances and lobby display is free.
* Saturday, Sept. 24, 7:00 p.m. Greensboro Day School, Vincent van Gelder performs selections from Van Cliburn’s 1958 Tchaikovsky competition program as well as works by Beethoven, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, and Liszt. Also on display: recorded Van Cliburn performances showcased on the Steinway Spirio player piano system. Admission to van Gelder performance and lobby display is free.
In October, the Van Cliburn piano travels to Charlotte to continue its tour. It will be featured at Steinway Piano Gallery – Charlotte throughout the month and available for visitors to play by appointment. Two special Charlotte-area events are planned:
* Friday, Oct. 14, and Saturday, Oct. 15 [8 pm]. The Van Cliburn piano will be featured onstage with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, where it will be used in a performance by 1989 Van Cliburn Competition gold medalist Benedetto Lupo Knight Theater, Levine Center for the Arts, Charlotte.
* Friday, Oct. 28, [4 pm]. Steinway Piano Gallery – Charlotte hosts a special edition of its “SPG Live” series featuring Thomas Pandolfi performing selections from Tchaikovsky and Liszt on the historic Cliburn piano. Steinway Piano Gallery – Charlotte.
For more information or to schedule an appointment to play the Van Cliburn piano in the Triad or Charlotte, visit www.steinwaypgch.com or call 704.817.2877.
About Steinway Piano Gallery-Charlotte/Greensboro
Steinway Piano Gallery-Charlotte and Steinway Piano Gallery-Greensboro serve the entire Piedmont region with pianos in all size and price ranges, including the Steinway & Sons, Boston, and Essex brands. Owners Mark and Katherine Love are active in working with local arts and cultural organizations and are committed to joining like-minded individuals, institutions, and organizations in supporting music participation.
About Steinway & Sons
Since 1853, Steinway pianos have set an uncompromising standard for sound, touch, beauty, and investment value. Because of a dedication to continuous improvement, today’s Steinway remains the choice of 9 out of 10 concert artists, and it is the preferred piano of countless musicians, professional and amateur, throughout the world. For more information, visit www.steinway.com.
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