The Piano Maven with Jed Distler

Jed Distler
  • 4.6 (12)
  • Music Commentary
  • Biweekly

Your friendly podcast guide to piano recordings.

  1. 1d ago

    Remembering Stephen Kovacevich - Ten Essential 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 Jed recommends ten recordings that represent a wide range of the Stephen Kovacevich’s artistry in a podcast tribute to the late pianist, who passed away October 27th, 2026. Chopin: Polonaise-Fantasie Op. 61 - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7930571--the-best-of-chopinBrahms: Handel Variations - https://streaming.prestomusic.com/album/9727275Richard Rodney Bennett: Piano Concerto - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7960899--bennett-piano-concerto-commedia-iv-five-studies-capriccioBartok: Out of Doors - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8036520--bartok-debussy-mozart-music-for-2-pianosDebussy: En blanc et noir = https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8036520--bartok-debussy-mozart-music-for-2-pianosSchumann: Kinderszenen Op. 15 - https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/stephen-kovacevich-bach-schumann-beethovenMozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major K. 467 - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8050905--ultimate-piano-concertosSchubert: Piano Sonata in B-flat major D. 960 - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8661423--schubert-piano-sonata-in-b-flat-major?srsltid=AYCX9vJtf_4IxGxblFeieivyPbPe1_-vuRM2GE7suROI3xmPzGvGVKvIBeethoven: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor Op. 111 (1992 recording) - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8787042--beethoven-piano-sonatas-nos-27-28-32Beethoven: Diabelli Variations Op. 120 (Onyx recording) - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7977855--stephen-kovacevich-plays-beethovens-diabelli-variations

    Remembering Stephen Kovacevich - Ten Essential Recordings

  2. Oct 26

    Jonathan Ferrucci's Excellent Bach English Suites

    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 gifted Italian/Australian pianist Jonathan Ferrucci’s recording of Bach’s English Suites is the subject of this episode. Link to purchase: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9991890--johann-sebastian-bach-the-english-suites

    Jonathan Ferrucci's Excellent Bach English Suites

  3. Sep 22

    Reviewing the Reviewer: High Fidelity's 1956 Record Annual Revisited

    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 goes back 70 years to look through High Fidelity’s Record Annual, a compendium of all of the reviews published by High Fidelity magazine in that year. He zeroes in on four releases that continue to hold interest for piano mavens, and what High Fidelity’s critics wrote upon their original LP release in 1956. The recordings have stood the test of time, but what about the reviews? Here is a link to browse through back issues of High Fidelity: https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/High-Fidelity-Magazine.htm And here is the link to Mortimer F. Frank’s article about Standards of Criticism that Jed cites in this episode: https://classicalmusicguide.com/viewtopic.php?t=26605

    Reviewing the Reviewer: High Fidelity's 1956 Record Annual Revisited

  4. Sep 15

    The Bach-Busoni Chaconne 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 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 de Laroccha, Hélène Grimaud, Veronica Jochum, Peter Rösel, Sequeira Costa, Alexis Weissenberg, Jorge Bolet, Freddy Kempf, Mihail Pletnev, Evgeni Kissin, Kun-Woo Paik, Alberto Reyes, Maria Tipo, Rosalyn Tureck, Christopher O’Riley, Alexander Brailowsky and Lise de la Salle. Here are a few performance links: Johanna Harris - https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=bach+busoni+johanna+harris&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b6f400fe,vid:qU6DLkC9f-U,st:0 Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli - https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=bach+busoni+michelangeli&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6716feae,vid:w6-v-ZtCAFw,st:0 Veronica Jochum - https://www.qobuz.com/fi-en/album/piano-masterworks-of-busoni-veronica-jochum/0888831794370 Arthur Rubinstein (live) - https://open.spotify.com/track/6z2ch5cRKeDeCQHSStdAY6

    The Bach-Busoni Chaconne on Disc

  5. Sep 8

    Antoine Préat's distinctive Haydn and Prokofiev

    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 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

    Antoine Préat's distinctive Haydn and Prokofiev

  6. Sep 1

    Vladimir Feltsman's Superb Bach Partitas

    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 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

    Vladimir Feltsman's Superb Bach Partitas

  7. Aug 24

    Julius Katchen at 100

    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 Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Ppc05b7nE Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpOahze1hFc Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OpjRcHknko Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Evhp3hO1U&list=PLJhYe4hsVJRdwFJnYM10LPS21E4A21ZVB&index=3

    Julius Katchen at 100

  8. Aug 20

    Ripe for Reissue - Four Box Sets (rebroadcast)

    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 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 le piano (Sony Classical, 11 CDs). Links to purchase - https://www.ebay.com/itm/115569835636, https://www.amazon.com/Raymond-Trouard-Une-Pour-Piano/dp/B0017YZIIW. Link to Grieg Concerto - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGVYdTY_uxM Season 2 episode 60

    Ripe for Reissue - Four Box Sets (rebroadcast)
See All (225)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Your friendly podcast guide to piano recordings.

Information

You Might Also Like