The Piano Maven with Jed Distler | Podcast on RSS.com

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler

by Jed Distler

Music Commentary

Season 3

Andrei Gavrilov's Complete Warner Recordings

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven The long awaited 21-CD box set “Andrei Gavrilov – The Complete Warner Classics Recordings” recently dropped, and Jed has been reconnecting with some of its contents, while discovering items that he missed when they first were released. Gavrilov could be both stunning and infuriating, and one never knew which side of his complex persona would turn up on each release. But to say that he was a virtuoso is like saying that Niagara Falls has water. Here are some audio excerpts from this collection: Rachmaninov: Prelude in B-flat Major Op. 23 No. 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSegyiHDr4w Ravel: Concerto for the Left Hand - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uaj-YlmG0k Chopin Etudes & Ballades - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRsCYJeh024&list=PLJULKzY28M2uQ6oKhoioP1gTOyeDp4PGd

Michael Kaykov's Lovely Liszt

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven Podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven Volume 69 in Naxos’ slowly but surely growing complete Liszt piano works cycle introduces the fabulous Lisztian Michael Kaykov to the series with a collection of piano pieces based on choral works. Here's a link to the CD: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9862444--liszt-complete-piano-music-vol-69?srsltid=AfmBOoql6erDpTuGvoYEcfWOJWFvOq1HAO5wuUdgRmwIimE47bqxWhTU Here’s a link to Michael Kaykov’s 2023 all-Liszt recital at Klavierhaus in NYC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muJLMFwG8CU

Behzod Abduraimov's Towering "Inferno"

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven Jed positively kvells over Behzod Abduraimov’s latest solo release “Inferno,” which features works by Czerny, Liszt, Debussy and Stravinsky. Here’s a link to listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EskcWGtjK6E&list=OLAK5uy_lCKv3FweBlfLaPEAXazkGsmtt9JCBlDXs&index=2

The 2025 Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition Four-CD set

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven Jed listens to a four-CD release devoted to performances from the 2025 Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition featuring winners and laureates. (Order here: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9781374--queen-elisabeth-competition-piano-2025?srsltid=AfmBOor6c3a50lT0B5sBekufIIPg1PZCz81lmnUD9hdJtrjb58UbH8Cz) There’s a lot of good music making to savor….. Here are a few video links for performances included in this box: Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxsolOqudqI Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDi0ZdLYclI Mozart Piano Concerto No. 27 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I6e6v9mCMc Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmeTysqpgII PLUS an alternate performance of the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 not in the box that Jed prefers!!!! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q6DGZnRES4

Backhaus' Beethoven Diabelli Variations Reconsidered

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven Reconnecting with Wilhelm Backhaus’ 1954 recording of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations, Jed shares his recent thoughts about this vintage interpretation, for which we’ve provided a link to listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0ud7EwbPaY

Meloclassic's Monumental Walter Gieseking Edition

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven Jed explores Meloclassic’s deluxe 29 CD/1 DVD Walter Gieseking 130th Anniversary Edition, the largest collection of broadcast and concert recordings featuring the legendary pianist, with many items published for the first time. Link to purchase: https://www.meloclassic.com/home/walter-gieseking-edition/

Some Mozart "K. 488s" that I Missed!

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven In response to your feedback from the previous episode devoted to Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major K. 488, Jed talks about four recordings of K. 488 that he missed, all of which you recommended! Here are links to the performances: Solomon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKYmqFXqTZI Grigory Sokolov - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcUx6b1TUlE Zoltan Kocsis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFSnhW-eRTE Eva Poblocka - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnZg_47a9YI&t=1144s

Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 K. 488 on Disc

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major K. 488 is one of the composer’s most popular and beloved works in this genre, and has been quite lucky on disc. Jed surveys the K. 488 discography, singling out distinctive versions to consider. Here are links to hear some of these: Arthur Rubinstein (1949, Golschmann/St Louis) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwsJ5io1pt8 Keith Jarrett - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee3e0UTVc8I&list=PL44gxJwuwoabQLi7g9huA1zhqaAk77bYB&index=6 Chick Corea - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoGZVZd4870&list=PLxzmL-cP6cVe6bywQAEOMgNjAY6319qAW&index=3 Walter Gieseking - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6v9_wUDEFk Vladimir Horowitz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vemFmTyo-tE Halina Czerny-Stefanska - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tYMwY1EzYg Annie Fischer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMa_S5ZPxa4 Rudolf Buchbinder - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTYFqkvYmcQ Murray Perahia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSePVTW_OiU Andras Schiff - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oC69Em8_bI

Richter at Carnegie Hall, October 1960 - The Back Story

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven Sviatoslav Richter’s 1960 American debut made musical headlines, chiefly for the series of five recitals he gave in quick succession at Carnegie Hall in October. The recitals were recorded and issued by Columbia Masterworks, yet went out of print almost as quickly as they appeared. For decades these discs were a kind of “holy grail” among piano mavens. In 1996 Jed wrote an article about this ill-fated series of recordings, which is the topic of today’s episode. Here are links to several of the performances discussed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7bu790QDd0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrrQXQMfcPc

Beethoven's Piano Sonata Op. 14 No. 2 on disc

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven Jed discusses Beethoven’s sometimes overlooked yet delightful Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major Op. 14 No. 2, citing a wide variety of recordings to explore. Here are links to some of those recordings: Artur Schnabel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbYeVXQpAFo Wilhelm Kempff (wartime 78s) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbX43nNleFc Wilhelm Kempff (mono LP) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzvi5YP6IEs Wilhelm Kempff (stereo LP) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiEuonaUw0g Alfred Brendel (Vox) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9DvXdtQ2FE Alfred Brendel (Philips analogue) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfk5JCk6mA0 Stephen Kovacevich - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUXYVV_fbx8 David Korevaar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PINoBEvhdjM Claude Frank - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQi2YBCHucs Yves Nat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBcTUKNfOTw

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