The Piano Maven with Jed Distler

Latest Episodes:

Cliburn 2025 - Philipp Lynov plays Ravel's Miroirs Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

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 Philipp Lynov playing Ravel's Miroirs in The Cliburn 2025 Semi-Finals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj9hASh2wgw&t=1521s

Steven de Groote plays Schubert Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

Jed discusses a very rare all-Schubert disc with live performances by Steven de Groote (Claremont GSE 1527)

Kate Liu plays Beethoven and Brahms Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

Link to purchase recording - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9735901--kate-liu-plays-beethoven-brahms

Link to video of Kate Liu playing Brahms' Piano Sonata No. 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OwW0T1PvZM

Link to Kate Liu 2022 Van Cliburn International Competition Quarterfinal Recital - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nliha96TliY

Chopin's Preludes Op. 28 on Disc Jun 29, 2025

Show notes

Jed explores recordings of Chopin's 24 Preludes Op. 28 with 24 pianists. Actually 25, since one is mentioned in passing, but it's basically 24!

Link to Jed’s review of Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy - https://www.classicstoday.com/review/schmitt-leonardys-stimulating-chopin/?search=1

Link to Alfred Cortot’s 1934 recording via The Piano Files with Mark Ainley - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4aeV1_Fhgc&t=35s

Link to Cristian Budu’s recording - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfbqLiLkWj8&list=PLgUQgOZfCdxEbNIkpd6kwtel8NET3rhhL

Link to Behzod Abduraimov’s recording - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uoQvb5PAOo&list=PLLNgLU7n-HIzgXqUrWuawObOk3Ygi6FY2

Link to download Guiomar Novaes’ recording via Internet Archive - https://archive.org/details/lp_24-preludes-op-28-sonata-2-b-flat-minor-o_frdric-chopin-guiomar-novaes_0

Andrew Tyson - The Willy Wonka of Pianists Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

Andrew Tyson's Landscapes - https://open.spotify.com/album/0g83URd7QGhtgWw2kj13sa

The Young Sokolov Jun 23, 2025

Show notes

Consider 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 teenage Grigory Sokolov's recordings of the Tchaikovsky 1st and Saint-Saëns 2nd Concertos reveal how this gifted pianist already was "Sokolov" at such a tender age - everything is there: the impeccable technique, utmost control of sonority and balance, and almost scientific awareness of his instrument's mechanical and expressive potential.

Here are links to the performances:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9445142--grigory-sokolov-plays-beethoven-chopin-schumann-saint-saens-brahms-tchaikovsky

https://open.spotify.com/album/62qe7ekY5UygTnFaiNE8RR

Alfred Brendel Top 10 Recordings Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

Jed Distler’s “top ten” list of Alfred Brendel recordings is the topic for this episode. Here are links to some of Jed’s reviews on Classicstoday.com:

Mozart Sonatas - https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-9108/?search=1

Mozart Concertos - https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-3408/?search=1

Liszt - https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-13884/?search=1

Bach - https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-13776/?search=1

Schumann - https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-3829/?search=1

Beethoven - https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-6210/?search=1

Chopin - https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-3293/?search=1

Lastly, Jed’s 2001 booklet notes for “Young Brendel – The Vox Years” were reproduced in this review, just scroll down and you’ll found them. Apparently Brendel hated these notes, but can you blame him?

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2001/apr01/brendel.htm

Julia Hamos' Distinctive Debut Release "Ellis Island" Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

The gifted young Hungarian/American pianist Julia Hamos presents Ellis Island, one of the most impressive solo piano debut releases in recent memory, featuring works by Kurtag, Bartok, Ligeti, Meredith Monk, Charles Mingus and Schubert.

Promotional video - https://www.facebook.com/reel/621337480674569

Ligeti's Fanfares - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tItbf6F-M3A

Link to purchase - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9759948--ellis-island?srsltid=AfmBOorpob-cx3Rc0JrrcaEg1sIz9QHIn6gnHJQ7ssacJ2q_cgF5Irm-

Claudio Arrau's Confrontational Mozart Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

Here's a link to Claudio Arrau's Mozart cycle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UvgqXHK_HI&list=PLsmSVKWkK9kEEjqHFYLWnxKe11GwPbyGo

Ripe for Reissue - Four Out-of-Print Piano Box Sets Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

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