Byron Janis Plays Chopin

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This disc marked the return of Byron Janis to recordings after more than two decades. His career was curtailed by arthritis, but he can still play short recitals and he decided to try recording again after a long absence. Those who followed Janis's career will notice the absence of any of Chopin's more virtuosic music from this program, a bit surprising because he made his reputation with the most difficult music in the repertoire. As if expression had been pent up in him for decades, he goes musically out to the edge in these works, taking lots of chances and risking excess. His chances and risks work, at least for this listener; I find the disc full of insight and beauty. --Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

Mazurka in G minor, Op. 24 No.1: Mazurka in G minor, Op. 24 No. 1
Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 55 N0. 2: Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 55 No. 2
Mazurka in C major, Op. 56 No. 2
Mazurka in F minor, Op. 63 No. 2
Nocturne in B major, Op. 32 No. 1
Mazurka in A minor, Op. 67 No. 4
Waltz in A minor, Op. 34 No. 2
Nocturne in E major, Op. 62 No. 2
Mazurka in B flat minor, Op. 24 No. 4
Mazurka in C sharp minor, Op. 30 No. 4
Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 1
Nocturne in F sharp major, Op. 15 No. 2
Waltz in A flat major, Op. 69 No. 1
Nocturne in D flat major, Op. 27 No. 2
Waltz in G flat major, Op. 70 No. 1

Amazon.com

This disc marked the return of Byron Janis to recordings after more than two decades. His career was curtailed by arthritis, but he can still play short recitals and he decided to try recording again after a long absence. Those who followed Janis's career will notice the absence of any of Chopin's more virtuosic music from this program, a bit surprising because he made his reputation with the most difficult music in the repertoire. As if expression had been pent up in him for decades, he goes musically out to the edge in these works, taking lots of chances and risking excess. His chances and risks work, at least for this listener; I find the disc full of insight and beauty. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Sensitive Piano Playing.......2005-02-15

this is piano playing like one does not usually hear today. Byron Janis was one of the most outstanding pianists when I was a young man.Stricken with arthritis in the early 1970s he did not record again until this CD was done in 1996. The playing is absolutely marvelous, sensitive, and he does not bang at the piano like so many of the modern sensational pianists do. I own several recordings of these Nocturnes, Mazurkas, and Waltz,and I find myself coming back to this recording over and over again.

I highly recommend this CD to anyone who loves Chopin's piano music. You won't go wrong.

He will steal your heart.......2001-02-14

Byron's interpretations on this disc are on such a high level that this would need to be placed in the category of "Connoisseurs' Chopin by a Connoisseurs' Pianist". Horowitz, move over. ...

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