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.

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