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The Piano Maven with Jed Distler

Jed Distler

Your friendly podcast guide to piano recordings.

music music commentary

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19:52

Essential All-Liszt Recitals Part 1

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2026/01/15

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 episode focuses upon seven highly distinctive all-Liszt recitals that surely will enhance any piano collection. Here are links to sample selections:1. Claudio Arrau - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nMR83ly5GU2. Minoru Nojima -

7:57

The Prague Piano Duo Plays Schubert

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2026/01/12

Jed discusses a terrific all-Schubert release from the Prague Piano Duo. YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_yu59RaaAY&list=OLAK5uy_nbCOUfqIFHKJwhOEzQaxNWFor_PIZM7nwBandcamp link: https://praguepianoduo.bandcamp.com/

8:43

Sviatoslav Richter's 1977 Salzburg Recital Revisited

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2026/01/08

Welcome to our second episode of Season Three.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 A listener asked me about Sviatoslav Richter’s August 26th 1977 Salzburg Festival recital issued on the Orfeo label. I hadn't heard this disc in a while, so I decided to revisit it. Here's a link to the

19:50

Chopin's Barcarolle on Disc

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2026/01/05

Welcome to our first episode of Season Three! 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 Chopin’s Barcarolle is the topic of this episode, where Jed recommends some of his long-time favorite recordings. Here are links to recordings discussed: Alfred Cortot – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNhHWqVvPrgBenno

19:47

A Vladimir Horowitz Sonata Collection from Sony/BMG

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/12/29

"Vladimir Horowitz Plays Great Sonatas" is culled from the legendary virtuoso's Columbia Masterworks and RCA Victor catalogs, and features selections ranging from the Baroque era to mid-20th century works that are strongly identified with the pianist. Although most of the performances can easily be sourced outside of this collection, piano mavens still will want to know about this ten-disc set, which can be obtained from second-hand dealers:

23:39

Reviews in Retrospect - IPQ's critics pick the best...

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/12/18

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 -

8:50

Cyprien Katsaris' Beethoven Odyssey

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/12/15

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

14:05

Ripe for Reissue - Four Out-of-Print Piano Box Sets...

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/12/11

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=TzArJYgJqdEAnnerose Schmidt plays Mozart's Complete Piano Concertos (Berlin Classics, 10 CDs). Link to purchase - https://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Piano-Concertos-Wolfgang-Amadeus/dp/B0036ULAY6France Clidat plays Liszt (Decca, 14 CDs). Link to listen to Hungarian Rhapsodies No.s 1-10 -

8:05

Arrau at the Ambassador

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/12/08

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/

16:29

Still Another Box Set Wish List

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/12/04

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

8:33

Rachmaninov Concertos Under the Radar

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/12/01

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=1Concerto No. 2: Julius Katchen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Evhp3hO1U&list=PLJhYe4hsVJRdwFJnYM10LPS21E4A21ZVB&index=3Concerto No. 3: Mirka

13:49

Thanksgiving Turkeys (rebroadcast)

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/11/27

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

6:05

Volodos in Vienna

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/11/24

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=7m0hFO3yvyALiszt Dante Sonata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZYJvX8Ruck

6:02

Malcolm Frager and John Browning - two documentaries

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/11/20

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

19:53

The Ideal Debussy Preludes Book 1 (One Pianist for...

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/11/17

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/905973751No. 2 Philippe Cassard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHIwKlPewVgNo. 3 Alfred Cortot – (1931 recording) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZVy_6T86bINo 4 Catherine Collard -

6:23

Jorge Bolet's Best Liszt Transcendental Etudes

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/11/13

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=2021sConsider 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

4:39

Paolo Bordoni's Complete Schubert Waltzes

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/11/10

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

8:13

Stanislav Knor plays Chopin's Four Scherzos

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/11/06

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

19:22

Six Chopin Nocturne Cycles (rebroadcast)

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/11/03

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=3lssPl98jDkMoura Lympany link: https://www.classicstoday.com/review/sublime-sounds-sacred-space/Stephen Hough link to Hyperion video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqD7AHQAKykIvan Moravec plays Chopin Op. 48 No. 1:

16:33

Bach Guild's Big Chopin Box (rebroadcast)

The Piano Maven with Jed Distler ·

2025/10/30

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

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