The Piano Maven with Jed Distler

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Ferruccio Busoni’s piano transcription of the Chaconne from J.S. Bach’s. Partita No. 2 in D Minor for Unaccompanied Violin is the topic of this episode, where Jed discusses nearly a century’s worth of worthy recorded versions, including Johanna Harris, Yvonne Loriod, Erik Then-Bergh, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Shura Cherkassky, Egon Petri, Agnelle Bundervoët, Gregori Ginzburg, Arthur Rubinstein, Alicia...

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Jed has been enjoying Antoine Préat’s recent release “Fool’s Fortune,” an intriguing and highly distinctive program juxtaposing works of Haydn and Prokofiev.

Here’s a link to purchase:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9839841--fortunes-fool?srsltid=AfmBOooArl703ZarsYRkEgnTGPPSwzRJSwtrIjC6R5MGlJupPIil7AZN

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Vladimir Feltsman’s splendid recordings of the Bach Partitas have somehow been overlooked over the years. Jed recently revisited this release, to his delight and pleasure.

Here’s a link to purchase them:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009W00CO8?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

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

August 2026 marks the centenary of the American piano legend Julius Katchen (1926-1969). Jed discusses his early career, and picks some favorite recordings to recommend:

Brahms Piano Sonata No. 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rs94HqX4Xg

Schumann Carnaval - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YfHn1nMNOg

Mendelssohn/Liszt On Wings of...

Sorry, folks! My USB mixer died a few days ago, and I had to order a new one, which is why you didn't get a new episode this week. So I'm posting this episode from last year, for the simple reasons that these four "ripe for reissue" box sets still remain out of print as of August 19th 2026!

Enjoy the episode, and I plan to be back with fresh new stuff ASAP - thank you for your patience!

Here are links to the releases I discuss:

Milosz Magin plays Chopin (Accord, 10 CDs). A...

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Alexis Weissenberg was a fascinating yet polarizing pianist and interpreter, whose assertive profile and almost icy brilliance could be mesmerizing or exasperating, depending on the listener. Yet he projected authority in every note, and commanded attention. Jed discusses Warner Classics’ box set devoted to the pianist’s complete recordings for the EMI label, a 37-CD collection that will provide grist for...

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Here are links to some of the performances of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor K. 466 that Jed mentions during the course of this episode. These are only suggestions, for the catalog abounds in excellent versions. Do you have favorites that Jed missed? Let us know!

Edwin Fischer (1954) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBa6W...

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Jed enthuses over Francesco Piemontesi’s 2023 Pentatone release encompassing Franz Liszt’s Twelve Transcendental Etudes and Piano Sonata in B Minor

Here are links to listen and purchase:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQJxeAuC-QI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lxcjQFNZAQ

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9513806--liszt-piano-sonata-transcendental-etudes

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Chopin’s Introduction and Rondo in E-flat Op. 16 is a virtuoso showpiece that always brings down the house, at least in the right hands. Here are links to some of the recordings discussed in this episode:

Anatole Kitain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrfhHc9r99o

Vladimir Ashkenazy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

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

2026 marks the centenary of the composer and pianist Hans Otte’s birth. His multi-movement minimalist masterpiece The Book of Sounds has been pretty lucky on disc, and Jed discusses the work’s discography for this episode.

Here are links to recordings:

Hans Otte - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHmWXLaSePc&list=PLWM30loNhYy-M0EmzudadkmyXfDXjH471

Ra...

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Who is Maximianno Cobra, and why are his tempos so slow? Find out more from these links:

Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 32 Op. 111 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkjy9_EWAds

Ravel Pavane - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIcRh4wIIwY

Bach Goldberg Variations - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5N0...

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Arcadi Volodos records infrequently, so any new release automatically warrants attention, such as his very individual interpretations of the Schubert D Major Sonata D. 850 and Schumann’s Kinderszenen Op. 15.

Here’s a link to a live performance of D. 850 with Volodos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss8t5i1ZlBY

And a link to t...

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Marc-André Hamelin’s 2011 recital in Schwhetzingen finds the great pianist on blazing form throughout. Here is a link to listen:

https://archive.org/details/nbghxf

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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...

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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 Kayk...

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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

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...

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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

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/

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://ww...

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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...

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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...

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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

...

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Can we trust Artificial Intelligence to recommend piano recordings? Well, yes and no. Jed explains why on this first in a series of “Maven Chats.”

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On this episode Jed discusses Warner Classics’ box set edition of Italian piano legend Maria Tipo’s complete EMI and Fonit Cetra recordings.

Here are links to several cited examples:

Bach Italian Concerto - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUweFba-MfM

Beethoven Piano Sonata Op. 2 No. 3 Mvt. 4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1mv...

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Pianists occasionally record repertoire for which they are not immediately associated, or else they record works that one never would imagine hearing from these particular artists. On this episode, Jed explores examples of pianists “playing against type.”

Here are links to recordings discussed:

Glenn Gould: Chopin Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor - https://www.youtube.com...

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Alicia de Larrocha’s only recording produced especially for Columbia Masterworks featured three works of Maurice Ravel. It’s never been reissued on CD outside of Japan. Jed discusses this fascinating and hard-to-source release on this episode. Here’s a link to the music:

Alborada del grazioso - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2upEuqpqA6M

Valses...

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Jed discusses three of Emil Gilels’ commercial recordings of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1; with links to the performances below:

with Fritz Reiner/Chicago Symphony (1955) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJy-hKfHdfw

with Lorin Maazel/New Philharmonia Orchestra (1972) –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHl73cAsGhw

with Zubin Mehta/New York Philharmonic (1979) – (video) https://www.youtub...

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The unique and iconic improvising pianist, composer and bandleader Cecil Taylor (1929-2018) is the subject of today’s episode. Here are links to some of the recordings that Jed recommends:

Conquistador (1966) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lq7liyDznk

Indent (1973) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ_UYNRKvBQ&list=OLAK5uy_lD9tgOUv7eJXPcsAbhDfEavQdGrMtEuYc

Sp...

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Jed recommends recordings for one of his favorite Mozart Piano Concertos, No. 17 in G Major K. 453.

Here are links to some of the recordings discussed:

Ernst von Dohnanyi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSo5SKsSQ6s

Edwin Fischer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYPFLlW9AaU

Rudolf Serkin...

Here’s a challenge - name a pianist who never made a bad recording.

Jed comes up with five pianists who possibly qualify. Here are links to selected recordings by these five:

Sergei Rachmaninov – Liszt Polonaise No. 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku5vyVticwA

Dini Lipatti – Ravel Alborada del gracioso https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfypT_q6EUk

Ivan Moravec – Debussy Feux d’artifice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReXA2xlbq9M&list=OLAK5uy_kRuoBH-ae0Vld9umNkJVlV_Ghqbugp_WY&index=2

Martha Argerich – Chopin Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp M...

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On this episode, Jed talks about five notable Mozart pianists who brought divergent yet equally compelling approaches to this composer’s keyboard works. Here are links to listen:

Lili Kraus - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2doJV0FR8Q

Walter Gieseking (Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major K. 467) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

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 talks about Piotr Anderszewski’s Warner Classics release devoted to a probing selection of late Brahms piano pieces, while also exploring comparative performances of certain works. Here are links to several of the comparisons cited in this episode:

Op. 118 No. 2 – Anderszewski - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpISuRuqylc

Op. 118 No. 2 – Emanuel Ax - https://www.yo...

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 praises Boris Giltburg’s recent Naxos release devoted to early piano pieces of Rachmaninov.

Listen to the Nocturne No. 3 (1887) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_UzZmcZtZU

And compare both Giltburg’s earlier and new recordings of the Prelude in C-sharp Minor Op. 3 No. 2

Earlier recording - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKMbiBuJtvw

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Richard Strauss’ youthful and irresistible Burleske for Piano and Orchestra is the topic for this episode, where Jed discusses key recordings from the 78 and mono LP era, as well as top recent releases and several historical documents.

Here are links to some of the performances discussed:

William Kapell 1948 broadcast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix...

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Jed takes a deep dive into Deutsche Grammophon’s Friedrich Gulda Edition, which encompasses 84 CDs devoted to the pianist's complete recordings for labels controlled by Universal Music, plus some bonus DVDs.

Gulda was one of the 20th century’s most fascinating, multi-talented, confrontational and boundary-breaking musicians, who embraced both classical and jazz idioms with equal fervency and commitment. How...

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Morton Feldman’s hypnotically absorbing Triadic Memories has fare well on disc, and to mark the composer’s centenary, Jed explores several catalog options.

Here are links to the recordings discussed:

Roger Woodward - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM2_Vow5mms&list=PLbG9xmYd3shTK3wbQlBZaXI-_QNIsYP8a

Aki Takahashi - ht...

If you search for piano recordings via downloading and streaming platforms, you may encounter the name Claudio Colombo, who has seemingly recorded everything ever written for the piano, and for the harpsichord as well. Or has he? Just what is this all about? Jed tries to find out for himself on this episode.

Some examples:

Clementi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMAOTrCTYT4&list=PLjQOybcDkZBMDEqcph3Os-Tixbl4v4MxO

Brahms - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmVCcXY0Xbg

Schubert for Clarinet and Piano - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor Op. 58 may be the most frequently recorded among all of the Romantic piano sonatas, and Jed has his hands full on a lengthy episode that explores this work’s rich discography.

Here are links to several of the recordings discussed:

Moriz Rosenthal - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn4SmBSoG_I

Alfred Cortot (1933 recording) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EWRIOvTK0w

Percy Grainger (4th movement) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qW371IdjiA

Nadia Reisenberg (1st movement) - ht...

A rebroadcast of Episode 20 from Season 1, where Jed discusses complete cycles of the Chopin Etudes on record.

If you enjoy this rebroadcast, please consider making a donation to The Piano Maven podcast by subscribing to 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

Link to Jed’s Gramophone Collection Chopin Etudes Survey: https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/chopin-s-etudes-a-deep-dive-into-the-best-recordings

Links to selected recordings:

1. https://musicandarts.com/product/zayas-plays-chopin-12-a%C2%89tudes-op-10-12-a%C2...