The Piano Maven with Jed Distler

A look back at the Winter 1999 issue of International Piano Quarterly (now International Piano), when twelve critics were asked to pick their top piano releases for 1998, as well as to mention recordings they’d like to see reissued. How many of these reissue requests came to pass over the next 27 years? And have their 1998 top release choices stood the test of time?

Here are links to some of the recordings discussed:

The William Kapell Edition - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8079691--william-kapell-edition

Medtner – Complete Piano Sonatas, with Marc-André Hamelin - https://www.prest...

An adventurous six-CD box set containing original piano works by Beethoven, plus chamber and orchestral repertoire in rare solo piano transcriptions, all brilliantly served up by Cyprien Katsaris.

Link to the recordings: https://www.amazon.com/Chronological-Odyssey-Cyprien-Katsaris/dp/B081WQS75L

Here's a rebroadcast of Season Two Episode 60

:Jed discusses four out-of-print piano box sets that are ripe for reissue:

Milosz Magin plays Chopin (Accord, 10 CDs). A link to his Etudes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzArJYgJqdE

Annerose Schmidt plays Mozart's Complete Piano Concertos (Berlin Classics, 10 CDs). Link to purchase - https://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Piano-Concertos-Wolfgang-Amadeus/dp/B0036ULAY6

France Clidat plays Liszt (Decca, 14 CDs). Link to listen to Hungarian Rhapsodies No.s 1-10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afo2NTiZz2Y

Raymond Trouard: Une vie pour...

Jed discusses Claudio Arrau: The Ambassador Auditorium Recitals, Pasadena, California, USA, 1977, 1981 and 1986 - a five CD set containing previously unpublished performances by one of the 20th century's most singular pianists. For more information, visit First Hand's website: https://firsthandrecords.com/products-page/album/claudio-arrau-the-ambassador-auditorium-recitals-pasadena-california-usa-1977-1982-1986-5cd/

Here is yet another list of ten piano box sets that Jed would like to see released in the future, although whether or not his wish will come true is an open question! Pianists discussed include Gina Bachauer, Tamas Vasary, Rafael Orozco, Bruce Hungerford, Rudolf Firkusny, Sequeira Costas, Cyprien Katsaris and a special edition of piano recordings issued in the 1950s by the American M-G-M label.

Links to earlier Box Set Wish List episodes:

https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven/1789163/

https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven/2027603/

Link to “Ripe for Reissue” Box Set Epis...

Jed talks about recordings of Rachmaninov’s Four Concertos and Paganini Rhapsody that fall “under the radar" according to him, yet have great value and interest.

Here are links to the pianists and their interpretations:

Concerto No. 1: Tamas Vasary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRvbD20edYU&list=PLyrANGPNARULY0PWEc0R3HuZNfRP2oD9L&index=1

Concerto No. 2: Julius Katchen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Evhp3hO1U&list=PLJhYe4hsVJRdwFJnYM10LPS21E4A21ZVB&index=3

Concerto No. 3: Mirka Pokorná - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3wBB_v...

By request, a rebroadcast of 2024's Thanksgiving "Turkeys" episode!

Here are some genuine piano "turkeys" to consider, or perhaps to avoid, with links below:

For Valery Afanassiev's Beethoven, check out Victor Carr, Jr.'s review: https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-11451/.

For commentary about Rita Bouboulidi's Beethoven Sonata cycle, visit this link: https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php?topic=23626.0

Jed discusses Arcadi Volodos' 2009 Vienna Recital released by Sony Classical, one of this pianist's finest recordings:

Excerpts:

Scriabin Prelude Op. 11 No. 16: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m0hFO3yvyA

Liszt Dante Sonata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZYJvX8Ruck

Jed recommends documentaries about legendary American pianists Malcolm Frager and John Browning.

Link to watch Malcolm Frager: American Pianist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q-cx_lJNWc

Link to watch Memories of John Browning - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_tqt112TlE

Jed recommends individual recordings for each one of Debussy's twelve Preludes Book I, picking twelve pianists without repeating a pianist. Here are links to listen to, to download, to stream or to purchase these performances:

No. 1 Catherine Kautsky - https://music.apple.com/us/album/debussy-pr%C3%A9ludes-for-piano/905973751

No. 2 Philippe Cassard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHIwKlPewVg

No. 3 Alfred Cortot – (1931 recording) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZVy_6T86bI

No 4 Catherine Collard - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9592584--debussy-preludes-books-1-2?srsltid=AfmBOoqOKz2MWmGhobWiohTCz2e6tC...

Jed discusses Jorge Bolet's August 4th 1964 Tangelwood recital, which featured a stunning performance of Liszt's Twelve Transcendental Etudes. Here's a link to hear the recital:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvJo1ciAq3M&t=2021s

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Jed recommends Paolo Bordoni's delightful survey of each and every Waltz that Schubert composed for solo piano, once available from EMI

Here's a link to the pianist's rare EMI recording of Schubert's "Unfinished" Sonata in C Major D. 840:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bXlwC8Lf68

Jed discusses Czech pianist Stanislav Knor (1929-1984) and his early 1960s recording of the Chopin Scherzos, available to download here:

https://archive.org/details/fbgsf

And here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdSRZ_yOL7E&t=1890s

We continue rebroadcasting earlier Chopin-centered episodes of The Piano Maven with Jed Distler, this time with six recommended cycles of the complete Nocturnes.

Here are some relevant links:

Jan Smeterlin Op. 48 No. 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lssPl98jDk

Moura Lympany link: https://www.classicstoday.com/review/sublime-sounds-sacred-space/

Stephen Hough link to Hyperion video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqD7AHQAKyk

Ivan Moravec plays Chopin Op. 48 No. 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BaLVjoLUAQ

Continuing our rebroadcasts of selected Piano Maven episodes centered around Chopin, here's Jed's evaluation of a genuine download bargain.

Here's a link to purchase and download Bach Guild’s Big Chopin Box here: https://www.classicselectworld.com/products/big-chopin-box-7-hour-digital-download-boxed-set?_pos=1&_sid=598a0a1ad&_ss=r

Consider making a donation to The Piano Maven podcast by subscribing to our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/..., which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven

To mark Eric Lu’s first prize victory in the 19th Warsaw International Chopin Competition, I’m offering a rebroadcast of my episode about the pianist’s July 2nd 2022 recital in Leipzig, which included Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 2 – here’s a link to listen:

https://archive.org/details/3_20240904_20240904_1534

And here's a link to purchase his Warner solo debut CD –

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8732850--chopin-preludes-op-28-schumann-ghost-variations

Consider making a donation to The Piano Maven podcast by subscribing to our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/..., which you also can access by clic...

As we decompress from the 19th International Chopin Competition, my 100th episode in this second season of The Piano Maven podcast rebroadcast will be a repeat of the 2024 episode where I compare Arthur Rubinstein's three integral edition of the Chopin Mazurkas.

Here are download links for all three cycles:

1. https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8079160--rubinstein-collection-vol-6-chopin-mazurkas-scherzos;

2. https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8079130--rubinstein-collection-vol-27-chopin-mazurkas-impromptus;

3. https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7933105--rubinstein-collection-vol-50-chopin-51-mazurkas

On this episode, Jed offers a list of both historic and modern recommendations for each major Chopin work or cycle of works, without repeating a pianist.

Here are selected links to some of the recordings that Jed discusses:

Poloniases – Maurizio Pollini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-OK5a1h07s&list=PLC3ZgwGAh0c9yect11lXvWOIhHs8vRjUO

Poloniase Op. 26 No. 1 - Arthur Rubinstein: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVaLArwr80

Etudes – Paul Badura-Skoda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2n7NMgzjwY&list=PL4D14bmfCxVVkhor7FZs6mJeC9n_854gH

Jed Distler is in Warsaw as official Gramophone blogger for the 19th International Chopin Competition, as well as hosting a daily video "Chopin Report"

Here are links to five performances that Jed considers special:

Yanyan Boa - Ballade No. 4 in F Minor Op. 52 (at 37:21, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjQQa0YtGq0)

Pedro Lopez Salas - Nocturne in E Major Op. 62 No. 2 (at 00:02, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ0ZwM7Hz4Y&t=1151s)

Kevin Chen - Etudes Op. 10 (at 15:14, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsaCHVBpGvI)

Shiori...

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Tying in with Jed's live onsite coverage of the 19th Warsaw International Piano Competition this month, all of October's episodes are devoted to recordings of Chopin's music. On this episode, Jed discusses Deutsche Grammophon's 2021 box set reissue The Chopin Masters, featuring 28 CDs with 28 pianists.

Here are links to some of the performers and performances covered:

The...

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Our third and final three episode covering complete Chopin Mazurka Cycles on disc, along with significant releases featuring selections from the Mazurkas. Here are links to some of the recordings that Jed discusses:

Ignaz Friedman - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_-zrhZVF69NS5DXmagEMV6uoRw2X2SXU

Maryla Jonas plays Op. 17 No. 4 - https...

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

The second of three episodes covering complete Chopin Mazurka Cycles on disc. Here are links to some of the recordings discussed:

Tatiana Shebanova plays Mazurkas Op. 17 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi6Q3XNRnXQ

Russell Sherman - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8019963--chopin-mazurkas-nos-1-51?srsltid=AfmBOoo7Sf4Gtm0gjjXPu8cjZzgEQwkrZl1ybRtCdsROO93NZaEE1yCZ<...

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

Whose new recording of Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons should you acquire?

Jed discusses two recent and rather diverse interpretations from Bruce Liu and Yunchan Lim.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_-bTQ0toQ4

Although we're focusing on Chopin this month, I've decided to offer a bonus episode comparing Bruce Liu and Yunchan Lim in their recent recordings of Tchaikovsky's The Seasons.

Yunchan Lim - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvMdJnTjJ1k

Bruce Liu - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVYdHjTYKfs

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

This is the first of three episodes covering selected complete Chopin Mazurka Cycles on disc. Here are links to some of the recordings that Jed discusses in this episode

Arthur Rubinstein 1930s version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ092gZHB54

Excerpt from Nikita Magaloff’s Philips Mazurka recordings- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG...

Warner Classics' box set edition of Boris Berezovsky's Teldec Studio Recordings oddly omitted his Ravel recital for that label. This disc has long been one of Jed's "guilty pleasures," as you will learn from this episode. Here's a link to find second-hand copies of this long out-of-print disc: https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/6924178

Consider a paid sunscription to The Piano Maven by clicking on this link: https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/.

Jed discusses Martin Jones' complete Debussy piano music cycle on Nimbus.

Link to recordings: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7961023--debussy-complete-piano-music?srsltid=AfmBOopkhy9q8dyyUowlAshDW8DXwGTyp91S-5Dqf2XRm72pz6TEF7KD

Want to get acquainted with Hyperion's Romantic Piano Series, but don't know where to begin? Jed selects five representative volumes to get you started.

Volume 42: Sinding and Alnaes Concertos - https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67555

Volume 55: Widor Concertos and Fantasie - https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67817

Volume 18: Marx and Korngold Concertos - https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA66990

Volume 62: Gounod's Complete Works for Pedal Piano and Orchestra - https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D...

Claude Loyola Allgén's 49 minute Fantasia for Piano (1956) is a work that unfolds in one long uninterrupted movement. What does one make of this strange yet fascinating music? Is it a neglected masterpiece, or merely just one big mess? Decide for yourself by clicking on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpFb-rabTkU

Jed reviews Edna Stern's 2024 Orchid Classics Schumann release. Here's a link to download: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9664747--carnaval

Consider supporting 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

For this episode, Jed talks about six pianists who had major careers yet recorded relatively little. The pianists are Yara Bernette, Carl Friedberg, Malcolm Frager, Myra Hess, Eduard Steuermann and Ossip Gabrilowitsch.

Here are links to some recordings:

Yara Bernette: Rachmaninov Prelude Op. 32 No. 4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe7Vr2...

Who said that ancient keyboard music doesn't work on the modern concert grand. Evidently it does, and wonderfully well, as Kit Armstrong demonstrates on this magnificent release. Here are some video links that should entice you to explore further......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZTfslob7Sw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ0_tTsiHtw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K86xCd6COBo

Jed Distler picks ten albums that represent a broad scope of jazz piano legend Oscar Peterson's extraordinary career.

Links to the albums here:

The Oscar Peterson Quartet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2QAj7OuSXc&t=134s

Live at the Concertgebouw - https://open.spotify.com/album/5u9s4m4f1og4Yz6uUfuljk

West Side Story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGb2wuT1p9o

Canadiana Suite - https://www.amazon.com/Canadiana-Suite-Oscar-Peterson/dp/B00000E5HT

My Favorite Instrument - https...

Th great Hungarian pianist Annie Fischer's EMI legacy is the topic of today's episode. Here are links to recordings discussed:

Beethoven "Moonlight" Sonata - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABwyRNbfHoU

Mozart Piano Concerto K. 595 Rondo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RObJ2V9R3v8

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For this episode of The Piano Maven, Jed Distler discusses selected recordings of Edvard Grieg’s Ballade in G Minor Op. 24. Here are links to most of the cited performances:

Leopold Godowsky - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enPP00uLYeQ

Eileen Joyce - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX4MB8rKv08

...

On this episode of The Piano Maven, Jed Distler reconsiders the legacy of jazz pianist, bandleader and educator Lennie Tristano (1919-1978).

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Links to recordings cited in this episode:

“Wow” Lennie Tristano Sextet (1949) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GSjkYnpvYM

“C Minor Complex” (1961) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX1s3OWXxZg

“Desce...

Carlo Grante is the first pianist to have recorded Domenico Scarlatti's complete keyboard sonatas on a modern concert grand piano. Issued by Music & Arts in six volumes totaling 34 CDs, Jed explores Grante's monumental achievement on this episode of The Piano Maven.

Here's a link to Volume 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WWSLwOjjqY&list=PLhQbBbPdSZ2wycF4j85kfeNYL7sPNFHuS

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Jed discusses Angela Hewitt's 2018 remake of the Six Keyboard Partitas by J.S. Bach.

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Partita No. 5: Preambulum (recorded 1997) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c1yNfGVM2E&list=PLPXd6_jpWSlfkR9JT-aCF-MxovL5gwr08&index=30

Partita No. 5: Preambulum (recorded 2018) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noHcLr_XPXw

Partita No. 4: Sarabande (recorded 2018) - https://www...

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Schubert Duo 1st Mvt - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1eK9WDenQA

Beethoven Op. 30 No. 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIxv9mac01c

Grieg Sonata No. 3 Op. 45 Mvt. 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCxvH9mRXvs

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Link to purchase Rudolf Buchbinder's 1986 EMI Chopin disc - https://www.amazon.com/Chopin-Piano-Works-Rudolf-Buchbinder/dp/B000239B96