The Piano Maven with Jed Distler

Latest Episodes:

Hans Otte's The Book of Sounds Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

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

2026 marks the centenary of the composer and pianist Hans Otte’s birth. His multi-movement minimalist masterpiece The Book of Sounds has been pretty lucky on disc, and Jed discusses the work’s discography for this episode.

Here are links to recordings:

Hans Otte - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHmWXLaSePc&list=PLWM30loNhYy-M0EmzudadkmyXfDXjH471

Ralph van Raat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXeD6h0cVMI

Nicolas Horvath (live performance) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUpt_f3b8z0

Nicholas Horvath (studio recording) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP3UCKL7U6I

Carlos Cipa - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsexWDGgGCU&list=OLAK5uy_kzPAmicXIR6pt8oXCSvTpGLCUjGFav9RA&index=2

Conor Hanick - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT_NFb0XCUA

Maximianno Cobra: Slower than slow, and even slower! Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven with Jed Distler 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

Who is Maximianno Cobra, and why are his tempos so slow? Find out more from these links:

Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 32 Op. 111 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkjy9_EWAds

Ravel Pavane - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIcRh4wIIwY

Bach Goldberg Variations - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5N04M2ieGg&list=PLr0MsaDpKsY-ygKOktmOA7Im7OL5wThfB

Liszt Consolation No. 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNG22kc9h8A

Brahms Symphony No. 3 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sHVdmjFxe8

David Hurwitz Video on the 12 Most Annoying Conductors Ever! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JReLCF2tpck

Volodos plays Schubert and Schumann Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

Arcadi Volodos records infrequently, so any new release automatically warrants attention, such as his very individual interpretations of the Schubert D Major Sonata D. 850 and Schumann’s Kinderszenen Op. 15.

Here’s a link to a live performance of D. 850 with Volodos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss8t5i1ZlBY

And a link to the Sony Classical release: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9843886--schubert-piano-sonata-no-17-in-d-major-d-850-schumann-kinderszenen-op-15

Marc-André Hamelin's Fabulous 2011 Schwhetzingen Recital Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

Marc-André Hamelin’s 2011 recital in Schwhetzingen finds the great pianist on blazing form throughout. Here is a link to listen:

https://archive.org/details/nbghxf

Andrei Gavrilov's Complete Warner Recordings May 21, 2026

Show notes

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

Michael Kaykov's Lovely Liszt May 18, 2026

Show notes

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

Behzod Abduraimov's Towering "Inferno" May 14, 2026

Show notes

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

The 2025 Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition Four-CD set May 11, 2026

Show notes

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

Backhaus' Beethoven Diabelli Variations Reconsidered May 07, 2026

Show notes

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

Meloclassic's Monumental Walter Gieseking Edition May 04, 2026

Show notes

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/

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