AllMovie

A penetrating look into the career of pianist Van Cliburn is offered in Bell Telephone Hour: Van Cliburn -- A Portrait. Narrated by Van Cliburn himself, the film reveals his early training and his views on music. He has been very supportive of younger musicians, and is shown working and interacting with a group of budding musicians at the Interlochen Music Camp. His enormous talent is demonstrated in performances of works by Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, and Chopin. Viewers are also allowed a glimpse of Chopin's B Minor Sonata being recorded.