Byron Janis: The Chopin Collection

Byron Janis is one of the greatest American pianists of all time. While his rich discography covers repertoire from Beethoven to Mozart, he has always had a special affinity for Chopin. Janis is famous for his sensitive and deeply profound interpretations of the composer's works. In 1967, Janis discovered two previously unknown Chopin waltzes - which he reflected as "a defining moment of my life; I felt like I was being led to them." The Chopin Collection featuring some of Byron Janis' finest Chopin recordings. Along with the two waltzes that Byron discovered, the release includes the masterful recording of Impromptu for Piano No. 1 in A flat major, the masterful Mazurka No. 4 in B flat minor, the sophisticated Nocturne no. 2 in E flat major, and the Waltz in A Flat major, which he composed as a deeply nostalgic farewell to his former fianc‚e. At age four, Byron Janis was recognized as a musical prodigy. He studied with Vladimir Horowitz and made his Carnegie Hall debut as a concert pianist at twenty. He was the first American artist sent to the Soviet Union as part of a cultural exchange during the Cold War. He went on to become an international superstar in the classical music world, despite a childhood injury left him unable to bend his pinky finger. Even a severe case of arthritis could not stop his career. Today, as a spokesman for the Arthritis Foundation, he conducts "mind over matter" workshops for children with juvenile arthritis.

Price: $16.98