Good news for classical enthusiasts. The Cliburn Foundation announced that the entire 12th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition will be Webcast—first note to last—starting May 20. The 35 contestants were announced today after months of international auditions. The Cliburn is arguably the world's most prestigious piano competition. Free (painless) registration at the Cliburn site is required to get the Webcast. I'm watching/listening to a test stream right now; it is 300k Real, and 32 minutes have gone by without the slightest glitch. Time will tell how it holds up during the competition, but as of now this appears to be a generous bonanza for classical piano lovers who can't spend two weeks in Fort Worth, Texas, or who can't afford the hundreds of dollars (thousands, for premium seats) for a subscription to all stages of the contest.
