"Music is such a part of life. It’s like breathing, like nourishment. And the classics are so important, because within the realm of classical music you have eternity and infinity, and mathematics and architecture, and spirituality and wonderment—so many things.” Van Cliburn, 2008

Go here to read my post on the 50th anniversary of Cliburn's victory at the first Tchiakovsky International Piano Competition. Tommasini's Times obit here.