Richard Rodzinski, the head of the Van  Cliburn Piano Competition who retired in July after 23 years, has essentially gone over to the competition. The Star-Telegram reports that Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, who was appointed to revive the long-faded Tchaikovsky International Music Competition, asked Rodzinski for advice in June. What was a one-shot consultation has turned into an appointment:

At a crowded news conference in Russia last Monday, Gergiev announced that Rodzinski had agreed to serve as a senior adviser to Russian music officials and head the planning committee for the next Tchaikovsky competition, scheduled for June 2011. The event includes prizes for piano, violin, cello and voice. The 64-year-old Rodzinski … plans to commute to his new job in Russia from his home in Fort Worth and do some work via the Internet.

The irony here, of course, is that Van Cliburn himself originally rocketed to fame by winning the Tchaikovsky in Moscow in 1958.