Byron (Yankelevitch) Janis (born March 24, 1928) is an American pianist widely considered to be one of the twentieth century's greatest musicians (Classical CD). March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (84th in Leap years). ... 1928 was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... A pianist is a person who plays the piano. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s The 20th century lasted from 1901 to 2000 in the Gregorian calendar (often from (1900 to 1999 in common usage). ...

He occupies four discs of the Philips Greatest Pianists of the Century series, and is one of thirteen great pianists featured in a Naxos Historical recording. His large and diverse discography from Johann Sebastian Bach to Guion includes arguably the most definitive renditions of all major piano concertos from Mozart to Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev, all the most difficult works in the repertoire, and exceptionally sublime Frédéric Chopin recordings. His pianism is described to combine a Horowitzian technique with a sublime musicality akin to Alfred Cortot's. He has a strong special affinity for Chopin and made a French film on him that was shown around the world. Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Royal Dutch Philips Electronics Ltd. ... Naxos Records is a record label specializing in budget-priced classical music CDs. ... Johann Sebastian Bach, 1748 portrait by Elias Gottlob Haussmann Johann Sebastian Bach (21 March 1685 (O.S.) – July 28, 1750 (N.S.))[1] was a German composer and organist of the Baroque period, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time. ... Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791) was one of the most significant and influential of all composers of Western classical music. ... Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff, also Sergey Rachmaninov or Serge Rakhmaninov (Серге́й Васи́льевич Рахма́нинов), (April 1, 1873 – March 28, 1943) was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. ... Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (Серге́й Серге́евич Проко́фьев) (April 271, 1891 – March 5, 1953) was one of the Soviet Unions greatest composers. ... Frédéric-François Chopin (March 1, 1810 – October 17, 1849) is widely seen as the greatest of Polish composers and among the very greatest of composers for the piano, the instrument for which he wrote almost exclusively. ... Vladimir Horowitz (ru: Владимир Самойлович Горовиц) (October 1, 1903 (or 1904)–November 5, 1989) was a classical pianist. ... Alfred Denis Cortot (September 26, 1877 – June 15, 1962) was a French pianist and conductor. ... Frédéric-François Chopin (March 1, 1810 – October 17, 1849) is widely seen as the greatest of Polish composers and among the very greatest of composers for the piano, the instrument for which he wrote almost exclusively. ...

Janis was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, to Russian-Polish parents. As a child, he studied at Juilliard School with the Lhevinnes, and received musical influences from Sergei Rachmaninoff and Alfred Cortot. He had lost sensation in a finger in an accident but this did not prevent his debut under Toscanini at the age of fifteen. Vladimir Horowitz attended young Janis's performance of a Sergei Rachmaninoff Concerto and invited Janis to work with him, which he did intensively for four years. He remained his closest friend and the only student ever acknowledged by Horowitz. The Juilliard School is a performing arts conservatory in New York City, informally but definitively identified as simply Juilliard, and most famous for its musically-trained alumni. ... Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff, also Sergey Rachmaninov or Serge Rakhmaninov (Серге́й Васи́льевич Рахма́нинов), (April 1, 1873 – March 28, 1943) was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. ... Alfred Denis Cortot (September 26, 1877 – June 15, 1962) was a French pianist and conductor. ... Arturo Toscanini (March 25, 1867 - January 16, 1957) was considered by many of his contemporaries — critics, fellow musicians, and the public alike — as the greatest conductor of his era. ... Vladimir Horowitz (ru: Владимир Самойлович Горовиц) (October 1, 1903 (or 1904)–November 5, 1989) was a classical pianist. ... Rachmaninoff, from a 1921 Victor advertisement Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff (April 1, 1873 – March 28, 1943) was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. ...

In 1960, he was chosen as the first American to be sent to the Soviet Union, and his performance opened the successful exchange between the cold war adversaries. This was the first of his many world tours, on which he premiered many works and performed breathtakingly challenging piano-concerto programs no pianist attempted before or since. In 1967, he accidentally unearthed two previously unknown manuscripts of Chopin waltzes in France — this was considered "the most dramatic musical discovery of our age". For these achievements he occupied the front page of New York Times many times. He also published an edition of Chopin waltzes.

He was honored by several U.S. Presidents and in 1984, while he was honored by President Reagan at a State Dinner at the White House, he revealed that he had been suffering from severe arthritis throughout much of his decades-long career. The painful and crippling condition eventually required surgery on his hands. However, he miraculously recovered sufficiently to resume performing and recording commercially and continues to do so even today. Famous people with the family name Reagan include: Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States Nancy Reagan, the wife of Ronald Reagan and influential First Lady Ron Reagan, President Reagans son and liberal journalist Michael Reagan, President Reagans son and conservative talk show host John Henninger... Arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation) is a group of conditions that affect the health of the bone joints in the body. ...

He received a host of the most prestigious honors each of which had not previously been conferred to an American, including the Commandeur de la Legion d'Honneur and Commandeur des Arts et Lettres (France’s highest decorations), the Grand Prix du Disque and Cannes Classical Award (both for his recording of Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev concertos), and the Harriet Cohen International Award and Beethoven Medal (for his performance of Beethoven sonatas). Other honors include the Classical CD Critics Choice (for his recording of the Rachmaninoff Third Concerto), the National Public Radio Critics Choice (for his all-Chopin CD), and the Distinguished Pennsylvania Artist Award. He is recipient of honorary doctorates and the Sanford Fellowship (the highest honor of Yale University). He is the National Ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation, Chairman of the Global Forum Arts and Culture Committee, head of the Visual and Performing Arts in America, and member on the Board and the Music Advisory Committee for Pro Musicis. Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptized December 17, 1770 – March 26, 1827) was a German composer of Classical music, the predominant musical figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras. ... NPR logo NPR redirects here. ... This article is about the institution of higher learning in the United States. ...

He is married to painter Maria Cooper Janis, daughter of Gary Cooper, and they reside in New York City. Gary Cooper (May 7, 1901 - May 13, 1961) was an American film actor who received five Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, winning twice. ...