Cliburn Backstage 2025 + Live Performance
Thrilling! Emotional! My three weeks as the backstage host at the Cliburn International Piano Competition were all that and more. Though classical music faces its challenges, the eloquence and passion of the 28 pianists have left me energized for what lies ahead. Enjoy the five playlists on YouTube: Features, Finals, Semifinals, Quarterfinals, Prelims.
One question I asked the semifinalists as they walked off stage: What role do piano recitals play in our increasingly virtual world?
I turned their responses into a 9-minute feature and was so moved that I made my way into Bass Hall for two of the final concerto performances. After watching the webcasts backstage for three weeks, it was a revelation to join the audience in the flesh—to escape my screen, to hear and feel the energy in the hall, and to commit to a performance from beginning to end. Something magical happens when we unplug and come together as a community, in person, in real life, to watch humans perform music composed by humans.
The final segment of the feature, “Live vs. Digital,” is devoted to the differences between digital and real life experiences. It all felt a bit meta, since I was making *digital* content advocating for live performances in a room with pianists I had just watched perform online. But the conversations were a reminder why we, the webcast team, were there working so hard in the first place. Every frame, camera angle, and insight (❤️ Liz and Buddy) was chosen to amplify these artists’ voices, to make piano music resonate today, and above all, to remind us of the humanity at the heart of performance—the humanity which sometimes gets lost when we digitize the art form.
I’m SO proud of everything the backstage crew accomplished. The webcasts were magnificent. Congratulations to everyone involved! My hope is that the digital content we created has drawn you in—and will lead you to a *live* moment of your own. If you found yourself moved at all, please search for performances of these pianists (or any!) to attend in person soon.