abstract:The International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical-music competition held every four years in Moscow, Russia, for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 30 years of age, and singers between 19 and 32 years of age. The competition is named after Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and is an active member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions.
During the Cold War, relations between the US and Soviet Union were eased when Cliburn won the first InternationalTchaikovskyCompetition in Moscow in 1958, at the age of 23.
The classical pianist Van Cliburn's Cold War performance when he won the prestigious TchaikovskyInternational Piano Competition at 23 also was selected.