An Evening with Van Cliburn, a benefit recital for The Humane Society of the United States, will bring together two of the finer things in life: classical music and animal protection. Specifically, the concert will combine the music of the world-renowned pianist, in an intimate solo setting, with the opportunity to support the nation's largest animal-protection organization in its ongoing mission.

The HSUS, in fact, is preparing to celebrate 50 years of promoting the protection of all animals, and we couldn't think of a better way to launch our golden anniversary than with a recital by the much-celebrated musician. An Evening with Van Cliburn is scheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday, February 25, 2004, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. (You can order special VIP tickets by clicking on the link below.)

Under the auspices of Honorary Chairs Angel and Paul Harvey, the concert is sure to be one of the highlights of the Kennedy Center's season. Ambassadors to the United States, members of Congress, corporate leaders, and HSUS members from around the country are expected to gather in the Kennedy Center's Concert Hall to hear the musician who first burst onto the world stage in 1958.

Warming Up the Cold War

Virtually overnight, Van Cliburn became a household name in 1958 when he seemingly did the impossible: The American traveled to the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, at the height of the Cold War no less, and won the debut contest right in the heart of the former Soviet Union. (One author claims that the Tchaikovsky jury needed to secure Nikita Khrushchev's permission to award the prize to Cliburn.) Cliburn returned to his homeland to receive a ticket-tape parade in New York City, the only time a classical musician has earned such an honor in the Big Apple.

Not long after that triumph, Cliburn invited Kiril Kondrashin, the conductor with whom he played his award-winning performances in Moscow, to Carnegie Hall to recreate the magic. Their recording of Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto became the first classical recording to sell a million copies. It has since eclipsed the three million mark in sales.

Cliburn's career took off from there. His credits and accomplishments would take a book to cover—and indeed there are books devoted to Cliburn, including a children's book—but suffice to say that he has performed with every major orchestra and conductor, and has appeared in all the important international concert halls. He has played for every U.S. president since Harry Truman and charmed royalty and heads of state in Europe, Asia, and South America.

At the height of his career, Van Cliburn still found time to give his name, talents and energies to the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, first held in 1962, a living legacy to Van Cliburn’s commitment to aiding the development of young artists.

In December 2001, Cliburn was presented with the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors Medallion during a televised tribute in Washington D.C. Earlier that same year, he was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.