"This is a war of two men, one fights for darkness and domination and death, the other fights for light, liberty, and love.
All the love in my heart and soul go out to the unbelievably passionate and courageous Ukrainian people and their inspired President. I am donating all the proceeds from sales of my newly released Recital CD, “LIVE FROM LENINGRAD, 1960” and “BYRON JANIS LIVE: ON TOUR” VINYL to Doctors without Borders and World Central Kitchen led by Jose Andres. Interestingly, The CD contains a Sonata by the American composer Aaron Copeland and The Funeral March Sonata by the great Polish Composer Frederic Chopin.
Ukraine and its citizens are showing the world the true meaning of Love.
May we all learn it!”
Byron Janis
LEGENDARY AMERICAN CLASSICAL PIANIST
Byron Janis is internationally renowned as one of the world's greatest pianists. He made his orchestral debut at age 15 with Toscanini's NBC Symphony Orchestra and the following year was chosen by Vladimir Horowitz as his first student. At 18, he became the youngest artist ever signed to a contract by RCA Victor Records. Two years later, in 1948, he made his Carnegie Hall debut which was hailed as an unparalleled success.
Live from Leningrad, 1960, a recording made in secret and recently discovered of his historically significant performance in Russia during the height of the Cold War. Maestro Janis was unaware of its existence until his sound engineer Seth Winner, who received it by mail from an unnamed source, brought the vinyl to him.
Live from Leningrad, 1960 is comprised of 16 classical pieces from six composers, including Aaron Copland’s Piano Sonata composed in 1939, which reflects Copland’s fear of WW II, and ends with beautiful bells that “announce the hope for peace,” says Janis. Other featured composers: Chopin, de Falla, Liszt, Mozart and Schumann. Live from Leningrad is the second in a series of Janis’ previously unreleased recordings of live performances.
Maestro Janis performed in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, at the behest of President Kennedy, whose administration appointed Janis our country’s first Cultural Ambassador to Russia. The Cultural Exchange was meant to soften the relationship between the two superpowers. The beginning of this Cultural Exchange was fraught by hostilities towards the USA due to Russia’s shooting down of a new USA U2 spy plane.
LISTEN TO A PREVIEW
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
1. Mozart Piano Sonata No. 5 G Major K.283. 1 Allegro
2. Mozart : Piano Sonata No. 5 K283. 2 Andante C Major
3. Mozart Piano Sonata No. 5 K283. 3 Presto
4. Schumann: Arabesque C Major Op.18
5. Chopin : Piano Sonata No. 2 B Flat Minor Op. 35. 1 Grave - Doppio Movimento
6. Chopin : Piano Sonata No. 2 B Flat Minor Op.35
7. Chopin : Piano Sonata No. 2 B Flat Minor Op.35 - 3 Marche Funèbre
8. Chopin : Piano Sonata No. 2 B Flat Minor Op.35 - 4 Finale
9. Liszt : Valse Oubliée No. 1
10. Liszt : Sonetto del Petrarca No. 104
11. Copland : Piano Sonata. 1 Molto Moderato
12. Copland: Piano Sonata. 2 Vivace
13. Copland: Piano Sonata. 3 Andante Sostenuto
14. Chopin : Étude F Major Op. 25 No. 3
15. Chopin : Étude G Flat Major Op. 10 No. 5 (Black Key Étude)
16. de Falla : The Three-Cornered Hat : The Miller’s Dance
“Byron Janis Live: On Tour” (Janis Eleven Enterprises), a collection of previously unissued live performances of pieces by Chopin, Haydn and Liszt that were recorded between 1979 and 1999, also includes solo-piano arrangements of several of Mr. Janis’ songs, thus reminding us that he is also a highly accomplished popular songwriter.
Available for the first time on 180g vinyl, Byron Janis - Live: On Tour. This very limited edition double album release comes complete with a full color pull out 24x24 inch poster suitable for framing.
Limited Quantities.
LISTEN TO A PREVIEW
Sonata E Flat Major Hob. XVI:49 (Allegro) Haydn Paris, France 1982
Sonata E Flat Major Hob. XVI:49 (Adagio Cantabile) Haydn Paris, France 1982
Sonata E Flat Major Hob. XVI:49 (Tempo di Menuet) Haydn Paris, France 1982
Polonaise Chopin Havana, Cuba 1999
Mazurka F Minor (Posthumous) Chopin Havana, Cuba 1999
Nocturne D Flat Op. 27 No. 2 Chopin Warsaw, Poland 1979
Waltz A Flat Major Op. 34 No.1 Chopin Toulon, France 1989
Sonata B Minor Third Movement (Largo) Op. 58 No. 3 Chopin Knoxville, TN 1982
Waltz G Flat Major (Posthumous) Chopin New York, NY 1982
Waltz G Flat Major Op. 70 No. 1 Chopin New York, NY 1982
Sonetto del Petrarca No. 104 Liszt Brussels, Belgium 1988
Paraphrase on Verdi’s Opera, Rigoletto Liszt Madrid, Spain 1981
You Are More Byron Janis Abbey, Bethlehem, CT 1988
READ THE LYRICSDavid’s Star - A Song for Israel Byron Janis Abbey, Bethlehem, CT 1988
READ THE LYRICSLike Any Man Byron Janis Abbey, Bethlehem, CT 1988
READ THE LYRICS“By and Cy - More Paganini Variations” Byron Janis and Cy Coleman* NY, NY