Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Smooth Classics with Margherita Taylor 10pm - 1am

    Smooth Classics with Margherita Taylor

    Now Playing

    Piano Concerto No.4 in E major Opus 110 (2) Johann Nepomuk Hummel Download 'Piano Concerto No.4 in E major Opus 110 (2)' on iTunes

    Piano Concerto No.4 in E major Opus 110 (2) artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Lifestyle
    • Win
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Twitter
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Discover Music

    • Discover Music Home
    • Periods & Genres
    • Occasions
    • Mood
    • Instruments
    • Music Theory
    • Learning
    • Humour
    • Women in Music
    • More Classic FM

    Amazing historical photos from the Tchaikovsky Competition

    Facebook share Twitter share

    The very first Tchaikovsky Competition took place in 1958 with categories for piano and violin. It now takes place every four years and includes categories for cello and voice. In this gallery we take a look back through the amazing history of this world-famous competition.

    1. Van Cliburn and Shostakovich

      1. Van Cliburn and Shostakovich

      Shostakovich presents pianist Van Cliburn with the gold medal in 1958. The jury had to get permission from Khrushchev before giving first prize to an American. On the phone Khrushchev asked "Is he the best?" and when the jury member assured the politician that Van Cliburn was indeed the best, Khrushchev replied "then give him the prize".

    2. Tchaikovsky Competition

      2. Van Cliburn and Valery Klimov

      Violinist Valery Klimov (left) with pianist Van Cliburn – they both won their respective categories in 1958.

    3. John Ogden

      3. John Ogden

      John Ogden performs at the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1962. He went on to win joint first prize with Vladimir Ashkenazy

    4. Tchaikovsky Competition history

      4. Van Cliburn performs

      The winner of the inaugural competition, Van Cliburn, performs to a packed hall.

    5. Tchaikovsky Competition history

      5. Van Cliburn celebrates with Emil Gilels

      The piano competition's very first winner was Van Cliburn, in 1958. He's pictured here with fellow pianist Emil Gilels.

    6. Tchaikovsky Competition history

      6. John Ogden, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Nikita Khrushchev

      Pianist John Ogden (second from right) pictured with pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy (second from left) and (centre), Khrushchev at the Competition in 1962. Ogden and Ashkenazy were awarded joint first prize.

    7. Shostakovich at the Tchaikovsky Competition

      7. Shostakovich at the Tchaikovsky Competition

      Shostakovich presents a prize at the Tchaikovsky Competition

    8. Tchaikovsky Competition

      8. Van Cliburn in 1958

      The winner of the first-ever Tchaikovsky Competition poses for a photograph (second from the right). Nikita Khrushchev is second from the left

    9. Tchaikovsky Competition

      9. Shostakovich presents a prize

      The great Russian composer Shostakovich awards a prize to one of the participants in the 1958 competition

    10. Tchaikovsky Competition history

      10. Emil Gilels, Grigory Sokolov and Misha Dichter

      Three great pianists relax at the Tchaikovsky Competition: Emil Gilels, Grigory Sokolov and Misha Dichter.

    11. Tchaikovsky Competition history

      11. Ashkenazy

      Pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy performs at the competition in 1962.

    12. Tchaikovsky Competition history

      12. A band performs outside Moscow's Conservatoire

      A band performs next to a statue of Tchaikovsky, outside the Moscow Conservatoire

    13. Tchaikovsky Competition history

      13. Mikhail Pletnev

      Pianist Mikhail Pletnev was crowned winner in 1978.

    14. Tchaikovsky Competition

      14. Maria Callas

      The great soprano Maria Callas at the competition in 1970

    15. Tchaikovsky Competition

      15. Gidon Kremer

      Gidon Kremer, winner of the 1970 violin competition, performs during the rounds.

    16. Tchaikovsky Competition

      16. Ilya Kaler

      Violinist Ilya Kaler performing in 1986 – the year in which he and Raphaël Oleg shared first prize.

    17. Tchaikovsky Competition

      17. Boris Berezovsky

      Boris Berezovsky, pictured here, won the piano competition in 1990

    18. Tchaikovsky Competition history

      18. Nikolai Lugansky performs in 1994

      Nikolai Lugansky performs in 1994, when he went on to win second prize (no first was given)

    19. Tchaikovsky Competition history

      19. Van Cliburn

      The first winner of the Tchaikovsky piano competition, Van Cliburn, pictured more recently

    20. Daniil Trifonov

      20. Daniil Trifonov

      Daniil Trifonov performs at the 2011 Competition – which he went on to win.

    Facebook share Twitter share

    Discover music

    See more Discover music

    Lizzo plays virtuosic flute solo for James Corden in Carpool Karaoke sketch.

    Lizzo whips out a virtuosic 19th-century flute solo in Carpool Karaoke sketch with James Corden

    7 hours ago

    Doreen Carwithen is the step great-grandmother of Joe Alwyn, actor and long-term partner of Taylor Swift

    The world’s first fully-professional female film composer – with a surprising connection to Taylor Swift

    7 hours ago

    Most relaxing pieces of classical music

    10 most relaxing pieces of classical music

    1 day ago

    The most relaxing classical violin music ever written

    The most relaxing classical violin music ever written

    1 day ago

    Remembering George Walker (1922 – 2018)

    Remembering George Walker, the first Black composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music

    2 days ago

    A group trumpet lesson at a primary school

    Schools should offer at least ‘one hour of music a week’ – new music education plan revealed

    2 days ago

    Best classical music

    See more Best classical music

    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

    4 eras of classical music

    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    Women composers gallery

    21 of the greatest women composers in classical music

    Best pianists of all time

    The 25 best pianists of all time

    Some of history's greatest composers were part of the LGBTQ+ community.

    15 LGBTQ+ composers in classical music history that you probably already know

    Classic FM Live Playlists

    See more Classic FM Live Playlists

    Classic FM Hall of Fame

    Romantic Classics

    Classic FM Relax

    Classic FM Revision

    Classic FM Music for Pets

    Essential Classical

    Browse by

    See more Browse by

    Periods & genres

    Occasions

    Moods

    Instruments

    Trending on Classic FM

    Zeb Soanes to host Smooth Classics at Seven on Classic FM

    Broadcaster Zeb Soanes to host Smooth Classics at Seven, weekdays on Classic FM

    This week’s on-air highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery

    This week’s on-air highlights – including Album of theThis week’s on-air highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery

    Lang Lang performs in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland, California.

    Lang Lang performs nostalgic piano rendition of Mary Poppins song against Disney Castle backdrop

    Videos

    Composer John Williams

    John Williams hints at retirement from film music, says new score might be his last

    Williams

    Tenor jumps in helicopter to save The Wreckers at Glyndebourne

    Tenor jumps in helicopter to save Glyndebourne opera with ‘minutes to spare’ amid train havoc

    Glyndebourne

    Howling singing dog

    Owner’s secret footage catches dog playing and singing at a piano

    Elliot Page plays the violin as Vanya Hargreeves in season 1 of The Umbrella Academy.

    Is Elliot Page really playing the violin in The Umbrella Academy?

    Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ musical analysis

    The genius harmonic sequence that gives Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ its emotional power

    Debussy’s greatest masterpieces

    10 of Claude Debussy’s greatest pieces of music

    Debussy

    Yunchan Lim performs Rachmaninov to win the final of the Van Cliburn competition under Marin Alsop.

    Youngest ever Van Cliburn winner moved Marin Alsop to tears with this rapturous Rachmaninov

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Christmas Songs
    • Music for Pets
    • Quizzes
    • Handel
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Beethoven
    • Mozart
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Live
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Saturday Night at the Movies
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Jobs

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Twitter
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2022
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager