The Piano Maven with Jed Distler

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

Your friendly podcast guide to piano recordings.

  1. Andrei Gavrilov's Complete Warner Recordings

    May 21

    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

    25 min
  2. Michael Kaykov's Lovely Liszt

    May 18

    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

    6 min
  3. Behzod Abduraimov's Towering "Inferno"

    May 14

    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

    8 min
  4. The 2025 Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition Four-CD set

    May 11

    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

    13 min
  5. Backhaus' Beethoven Diabelli Variations Reconsidered

    May 7

    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

    8 min
  6. Meloclassic's Monumental Walter Gieseking Edition

    May 4

    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/

    24 min
  7. Some Mozart "K. 488s" that I Missed!

    Apr 30

    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

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

    Apr 27

    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

    25 min
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4.6
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Your friendly podcast guide to piano recordings.

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