Celebrating Maestro Janis’ 97th Birthday
by Maria Cooper Janis
March 24, 2026
Byron was a True Romantic. That’s who he really was, how he lived, how he felt about his life, or, what life itself could be. He chose to look upon, and live it that way. Music was his life. Music was the way he prayed to God. It was his oxygen, and because of that intensity, because of how he felt that drive of creating through his personal gift of making music, his passion for it from the age of 4, set him on that musical “Yellow Brick Road.” It led him to exploring the wonders, the mysteries, and beauties of life as expressed through music. Byron would hope that those of you reading this today, and listening to the music he played… would know who Byron Janis truly is.
What he loved was the mystery of creativity and LIFE! He loved intelligent risk taking – like driving fast (but never after drinking) – or taking a fast tempo musically, if appropriate. If the integrity of the music could support it, and he knew he could meet the challenge technically, he would take it… always.
It was a lifelong romance with mystery, the beauty of creation, of exploring the unknown. And part of that was the challenge of trying to sense where the composer really wanted his music to go. Horowitz told Byron that Rachmaninoff said to him after he had played a piece for the composer, “Well, it’s not what I meant but I like it!” Byron felt that the performer should bring his own magic to the music and go beyond the printed notes on a page!
I know if Byron were speaking to us today, he would hope you keep your ears and hearts open to the mystery of every day… and his bottom line would define that mystery as LOVE.
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INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS NOW AVAILABLE!
SPOTLIGHT:
Byron Janis "Toccata" on The Ed Sullivan Show, May 9, 1965
Byron Janis Plays for Barbara Walters
THE Byron Janis Story
THE BYRON JANIS STORY celebrates a musical virtuoso's remarkable resilience and contribution to classical music, presenting a touching portrait of a sensitive human being, a gifted teacher, and a tenacious artist. Now with a bonus feature "The Legend Behind the Music," directed and produced by Mary Wharton, delve deeper into Janis's life several years after the completion of the documentary.
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.