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/pianomavenThe 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=wSegyiHDr4wRavel: Concerto for the Left Hand - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uaj-YlmG0kChopin Etudes & Ballades - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRsCYJeh024&list=PLJULKzY28M2uQ6oKhoioP1gTOyeDp4PGd

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=AfmBOoql6erDpTuGvoYEcfWOJWFvOq1HAO5wuUdgRmwIimE47bqxWhTUHere’s a link to Michael Kaykov’s 2023 all-Liszt recital at Klavierhaus in NYC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muJLMFwG8CU

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/pianomavenJed 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

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/pianomavenJed 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=SxsolOqudqIRachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDi0ZdLYclIMozart Piano Concerto No. 27 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I6e6v9mCMcBrahms Piano Concerto No. 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmeTysqpgIIPLUS an alternate performance of the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 not in the box that Jed prefers!!!! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q6DGZnRES4

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/pianomavenReconnecting 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

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/

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=pKYmqFXqTZIGrigory Sokolov - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcUx6b1TUlEZoltan Kocsis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFSnhW-eRTEEva Poblocka - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnZg_47a9YI&t=1144s

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/pianomavenMozart’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=GwsJ5io1pt8Keith Jarrett - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee3e0UTVc8I&list=PL44gxJwuwoabQLi7g9huA1zhqaAk77bYB&index=6Chick Corea - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoGZVZd4870&list=PLxzmL-cP6cVe6bywQAEOMgNjAY6319qAW&index=3Walter Gieseking - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6v9_wUDEFkVladimir Horowitz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vemFmTyo-tEHalina Czerny-Stefanska - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tYMwY1EzYgAnnie Fischer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMa_S5ZPxa4Rudolf Buchbinder - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTYFqkvYmcQMurray Perahia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSePVTW_OiUAndras Schiff - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oC69Em8_bI

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/pianomavenSviatoslav Richter’s 1960 American debut made musical headlines, chiefly for the series of five recitals he gave in quick succession at Carnegie Hall in October. The recitals were recorded and issued by Columbia Masterworks, yet went out of print almost as quickly as they appeared. For decades these discs were a kind of “holy grail” among piano mavens. In 1996 Jed wrote an article about this ill-fated series of recordings, which is the topic of today’s episode.Here are links to several of the performances discussed:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7bu790QDd0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrrQXQMfcPc

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/pianomavenJed discusses Beethoven’s sometimes overlooked yet delightful Piano Sonata No. 10 in G Major Op. 14 No. 2, citing a wide variety of recordings to explore. Here are links to some of those recordings: Artur Schnabel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbYeVXQpAFoWilhelm Kempff (wartime 78s) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbX43nNleFcWilhelm Kempff (mono LP) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzvi5YP6IEsWilhelm Kempff (stereo LP) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiEuonaUw0gAlfred Brendel (Vox) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9DvXdtQ2FEAlfred Brendel (Philips analogue) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfk5JCk6mA0Stephen Kovacevich - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUXYVV_fbx8David Korevaar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PINoBEvhdjMClaude Frank - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQi2YBCHucsYves Nat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBcTUKNfOTw