Van Cliburn makes surprise appearance Thursday at Bass Hall - KYTX CBS 19 Tyler Longview News Weather Sports

Van Cliburn makes surprise appearance Thursday at Bass Hall

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FORT WORTH/TARRANT COUNTY (examiner.com) - Famed pianist Van Cliburn defied advanced bone cancer to make a surprise appearance last night at the 50th anniversary concert of the world-renowned competition he founded, and to thank supporters "from the bottom of my heart – I love you all forever."

According to the examiner.com, the audience at Bass Performance Hall showed their love for the Texan with thunderous standing ovations before and after he spoke.

Their enthusiasm evoked the adoration of Russian audiences for the 23-year-old Cliburn when he won the first Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow in 1958, at the height of the Cold War.

Cliburn, 78, a Kilgore native whose illness was announced last week, spoke in a raspy but strong voice, and smiled broadly throughout.

It was announced in August that Cliburn had been diagnosed with advanced bone cancer.

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