Sep 20, 2023 Musicians will play Steinway Concert Grand piano that belonged to Cliburn. Download high-resolution images. BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will continue its Van Cliburn Concert Series this fall by presenting two live piano performances: Vadym Kholodenko on October 15 and Joyce Yang on November 2. Highlighting the talents of internationally renowned performers and composers, the series celebrates today’s classical music through evocative, accessible concerts in the American Heartland. Van Cliburn was an American pianist who achieved worldwide recognition when he won the inaugural International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958 during the Cold War. Hailed as one of the most persuasive ambassadors of American culture, as well as one of the greatest pianists in the history of music, Cliburn tore down cultural barriers and transcended politics by demonstrating the universality of classical music. In 2016, Crystal Bridges received a gift of a Steinway Concert Grand piano that belonged to the internationally acclaimed pianist. The piano was donated to the museum by Thomas Smith, Cliburn’s long-time partner. Both Kholodenko and Yang will play the Cliburn piano for their concerts at the museum. “We’re thrilled to honor both Cliburn and classical music with our signature concert series,” said Crystal Bridges Director of Public Programs Moira Anderson. “This piano is legendary – a piece of storied history – and we couldn’t be more excited to continue presenting world-class concerts in the beautiful setting of the museum’s Great Hall.” During his lifetime, Cliburn performed for every President of the United States since Harry Truman and for royalty and heads of state in Europe, Asia, and South America. He received Kennedy Center Honors and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. President Barack Obama honored Mr. Cliburn with the National Medal of Arts in a 2011 White House ceremony. Vadym Kholodenko and Joyce Yang will help museum guests discover the artistry of live classical music with their concerts this fall. Both artists push the limits of contemporary classical music and demonstrate its lasting power to unite the head and heart. Each concert will be set against the natural beauty of Crystal Bridges’ own Great Hall and feature the sonorous voice of the institution’s Van Cliburn Concert Grand Piano. VADYM KHOLODENKO WHAT: An elegant evening of live music by acclaimed Ukrainian pianist and past Van Cliburn Competition-winner Vadym Kholodenko. Featuring Kholodenko’s signature refinement and style, this installment of the 2023 concert series brings some of the most iconic works of the classical world to Bentonville for an afternoon of virtuoso performance. WHEN: Sunday, October 15 | 3 p.m. WHERE: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art | Great Hall | 507 SE E St., Bentonville, AR 72712 WHO: Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko has captured audiences across the globe with his depth of sound, exceptional refinement of expression, and consummate virtuosity. This multiple-award-winning pianist (Van Cliburn Competition, Schubert Competition in Dortmund, Sendai Competition in Japan) is in demand both for his recitals and concerto appearances and was 21/22 Artist in Residence with the SWR Symphonieorchester performing Fauré, Brahms, Rachmaninov, and Beethoven across the season. HOW: Tickets are $45 ($36 for members, $10 for students and teachers). Guests can reserve their seat online or with Guest Services at (479) 657-2335. JOYCE YANG WHAT: An evening of evocative performance by Grammy-nominated musician and 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition silver medalist Joyce Yang. Featuring Yang’s acclaimed virtuosity and artistry, the evening will present iconic works of the classical canon alongside pieces specifically selected to honor the 150th anniversary of composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s birth. WHEN: Thursday, November 2 | 7p.m. WHERE: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art | Great Hall | 507 SE E St., Bentonville, AR 72712 WHO: Blessed with “poetic and sensitive pianism” (The Washington Post) and a “wondrous sense of color” (San Francisco Classical Voice), Grammy-nominated pianist Joyce Yang captivates audiences with her virtuosity, lyricism, and interpretive sensitivity. HOW: Tickets are $45 ($36 for members, $10 for students and teachers). Guests can reserve their seat online or with Guest Services at (479) 657-2335. ### About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 10.8 million visitors across its spaces, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a non-profit charitable organization by arts patron and philanthropist, Alice Walton. The collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions. The museum is nestled on 120 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities. Some 300,000 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools. Additional museum amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened the Momentary in Downtown Bentonville (507 SE E Street), conceived as a platform for the art, food, and music of our time. For more information, visit CrystalBridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.
