Backhaus' Beethoven Diabelli Variations Reconsidered

Hans Otte's The Book of Sounds

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about [https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about]), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven [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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHmWXLaSePc&list=PLWM30loNhYy-M0EmzudadkmyXfDXjH471] Ralph van Raat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXeD6h0cVMI [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXeD6h0cVMI] Nicolas Horvath (live performance) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUpt_f3b8z0 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUpt_f3b8z0] Nicholas Horvath (studio recording) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP3UCKL7U6I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP3UCKL7U6I] Carlos Cipa - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsexWDGgGCU&list=OLAK5uy_kzPAmicXIR6pt8oXCSvTpGLCUjGFav9RA&index=2 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsexWDGgGCU&list=OLAK5uy_kzPAmicXIR6pt8oXCSvTpGLCUjGFav9RA&index=2] Conor Hanick - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT_NFb0XCUA [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT_NFb0XCUA]

Maximianno Cobra: Slower than slow, and even slower!

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven with Jed Distler via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about [https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about]), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven [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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkjy9_EWAds] Ravel Pavane - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIcRh4wIIwY [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIcRh4wIIwY] Bach Goldberg Variations - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5N04M2ieGg&list=PLr0MsaDpKsY-ygKOktmOA7Im7OL5wThfB [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5N04M2ieGg&list=PLr0MsaDpKsY-ygKOktmOA7Im7OL5wThfB] Liszt Consolation No. 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNG22kc9h8A [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNG22kc9h8A] Brahms Symphony No. 3 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sHVdmjFxe8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sHVdmjFxe8] David Hurwitz Video on the 12 Most Annoying Conductors Ever! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JReLCF2tpck [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JReLCF2tpck]

Volodos plays Schubert and Schumann

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about [https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about]), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven [https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven] 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 [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 [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

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about [https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about]), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven [https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven] 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 [https://archive.org/details/nbghxf]

Andrei Gavrilov's Complete Warner Recordings

Consider taking out a paid subscription to The Piano Maven podcast via our Substack page (https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about [https://jeddistlermusic.substack.com/about]), which you also can access by clicking on the "Donate" button here: https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven [https://rss.com/podcasts/pianomaven] 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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSegyiHDr4w] Ravel: Concerto for the Left Hand - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uaj-YlmG0k [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uaj-YlmG0k] Chopin Etudes & Ballades - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRsCYJeh024&list=PLJULKzY28M2uQ6oKhoioP1gTOyeDp4PGd [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRsCYJeh024&list=PLJULKzY28M2uQ6oKhoioP1gTOyeDp4PGd]