The Piano Maven with Jed Distler

Latest Episodes:

The Chopin Etudes on Record (rebroadcast) Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

A rebroadcast of Episode 20 from Season 1, where Jed discusses complete cycles of the Chopin Etudes on record.

If you enjoy this rebroadcast, please 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 Jed’s Gramophone Collection Chopin Etudes Survey: https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/chopin-s-etudes-a-deep-dive-into-the-best-recordings

Links to selected recordings:

1. https://musicandarts.com/product/zayas-plays-chopin-12-a%C2%89tudes-op-10-12-a%C2%89tudes-op-25-trois-nouvelles-a%C2%89tudes-juana-zayas-pianist/

2. https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9264484--cziffra-plays-chopin

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl-WVW02GBg

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4aeV1_Fhgc

A Deep Dive into Beethoven's Diabelli Variations (rebroadcast) Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

A rebroadcast of Episode 23 from Season 2, where Jed discusses fifteen favorite recordings of Beethoven's last and largest piano work, the Variations on a Theme of Diabelli Op. 120.

If you enjoy this special extended episode, please 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 Jed's 2015 Gramophone survey of the Diabellis on record: https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/45340/page/118?term=distler%20diabelli

Link to an LP transfer of Charles Rosen's recording: https://archive.org/details/01diabellivariations120

A taste of Martino Tirimo's recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPxsk63yhWc

A taste of Cecile Ouuset's recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rwwCou7OyA

Download Olli Mustonen's recording: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7934860--beethoven-diabelli-variations-op-120?srsltid=AfmBOoo9TGZRcrhgz5R5_dw1J1E-JUCosDoaSFnujaaabvWhaeN2djzn

Paul Baumgartner's recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATxBzzFNvSU

Yunchan Lim's Goldberg Variations Feb 05, 2026

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 Yunchan Lim’s Official Goldberg Variations Aria Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seYfmj3L2EA&list=RDseYfmj3L2EA&start_radio=1

Other recordings mentioned in this episode:

Lori Sims Promo Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOp_QE4-JYc

Klara Wurtz (complete recording) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCae2ZDcfi8

Alexandra Papastefanou (Variation 1) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duOTs7v9FaM&list=PL2TwZLoz4m4uJk9diP_73Mlnrvuq2I0ah

Murray Perahia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBFRBWEuP0w&list=OLAK5uy_mUzRzgAFefvXjhs2oep2psqlNXVQltcK8

Messiaen's Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus - four recordings Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

I;m launching a multi-episode discographical exploration of Messiaen's monumental piano cycle Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus, starting with four recordings dating from the late 60s through the late 80s.

So sorry that I kept pronouncing the pianist's name "Jean Rudolphe," when it's obviously "Jean-Rodolphe." My apologies!!!!!

Here are audio samples from the recordings under discussion:

Michel Béroff - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvd2zGk11ic

Peter Serkin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlgD6cLyvj4

Anton Batagov - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30qcHdxnDRE

Jean-Rodolphe Kars - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8Vk7uRR0_Q&list=PLT7y1WItbPC5kkvWEj0wnAACsYsPzBYwg

Three Recent Beethoven Piano Concerto Cycles Considered Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

Here are recommendations for three recent releases devoted to the Five Beethoven Piano Concertos:

Inon Barnatan – Concerto No. 1 Third Movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jfAI0ZRGcs

Garrick Ohlsson – Concerto No. 5 First Movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=729a99oqRBw&list=PL44gxJwuwoaZWuiR72s4g7Xj6gEHxA2HB&index=13

Haochen Zhang – Concerto No. 4 Second Movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb9VEL3poPY&list=PLuUMeVsvQwwF0mDUPSEZlbRsC_5iZDGkB&index=13

Krystian Zimerman's Schubert Jan 25, 2026

Show notes

Jed talks about Krystian Zimerman’s Deutsche Grammophon recordings of Schubert's Piano Sonatas in A Major D. 959 and B-Flat Major D. 960

Links to selected movements are here:

D. 959 – II. Allegretto - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fubKC4TNi2g&list=PLsUQ1iTYBB1W0lEePuydi5ytSzbgscj3k&index=2

D. 960 – IV. Allegro ma non troppo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8WNaFz_F0U

Ingrid Fliter's Chopin Mazurkas Volume 1 Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

Jed talks about Ingrid Fliter's first volume of Chopin Mazurkas on the Outhere label. Here's a link to her performance of the C Major Mazurka Op. 24 No. 2:

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

Essential All-Liszt Recitals Part 1 Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

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=6nMR83ly5GU

2. Minoru Nojima - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3SoQ5-LCLI&list=PLrpUfzCDMUy106Wd9zufyedpnTFTXBt7u

3. Sandrine Erdely-Sayo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpYnmxKTBJA

4. Earl Wild - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvo8lJ1GOdA

5. Arnaldo Cohen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFmsjoKSU0k

6. Jean-Efflam Bavouzet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLoNn-I5JJg

7. Vladimir Ashkenazy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX0vjDUPF_k

The Prague Piano Duo Plays Schubert Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

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_PIZM7nw

Bandcamp link: https://praguepianoduo.bandcamp.com/

Sviatoslav Richter's 1977 Salzburg Recital Revisited Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to our second episode of Season Three.

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 music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0_PSRycUck&list=PLFer8UZgtB8JaLO0P43YDjLAfeB9sFqv6

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