The Piano Maven with Jed Distler

"Vladimir Horowitz Plays Great Sonatas" is culled from the legendary virtuoso's Columbia Masterworks and RCA Victor catalogs, and features selections ranging from the Baroque era to mid-20th century works that are strongly identified with the pianist. Although most of the performances can easily be sourced outside of this collection, piano mavens still will want to know about this ten-disc set, which can be obtained from second-hand dealers: https://www.amazon.com/Vladimir-Horowitz-Plays-Great-Sonata/dp/B0056K4V2M

A look back at the Winter 1999 issue of International Piano Quarterly (now International Piano), when twelve critics were asked to pick their top piano releases for 1998, as well as to mention recordings they’d like to see reissued. How many of these reissue requests came to pass over the next 27 years? And have their 1998 top release choices stood the test of time?Here are links to some of the recordings discussed:The William Kapell Edition - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8079691--william-kapell-editionMedtner – Complete Piano Sonatas, with Marc-André Hamelin - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7945019--medtner-the-complete-piano-sonatasMonique de La Bruchollerie box from Meloclassic - https://www.meloclassic.com/home/monique-de-la-bruchollerie-box/Benno Moiseiwitsch is amply represented in Naxos’ Great Pianists’ series - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7948359--great-pianists-moiseiwitsch-2Lukas Foss plays Bach Concertos Nos. 1 & 5 (LP transfer) - https://archive.org/details/lp_concerto-no-1-in-d-minor-concerto-no-5-in_johann-sebastian-bach-lukas-foss-the-zimblInternational Tchaikovsky Competition Vol. 1 – Vladimir Ashkenazy & John Ogdon - https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8253856--tchaikovsky-competition-vol-1-1962-the-competition-that-was-a-draw

An adventurous six-CD box set containing original piano works by Beethoven, plus chamber and orchestral repertoire in rare solo piano transcriptions, all brilliantly served up by Cyprien Katsaris.Link to the recordings: https://www.amazon.com/Chronological-Odyssey-Cyprien-Katsaris/dp/B081WQS75L

Here's a rebroadcast of Season Two Episode 60: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=TzArJYgJqdEAnnerose Schmidt plays Mozart's Complete Piano Concertos (Berlin Classics, 10 CDs). Link to purchase - https://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Piano-Concertos-Wolfgang-Amadeus/dp/B0036ULAY6France Clidat plays Liszt (Decca, 14 CDs). Link to listen to Hungarian Rhapsodies No.s 1-10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afo2NTiZz2YRaymond Trouard: Une vie pour le piano (Sony Classical, 11 CDs). Links to purchase - https://www.ebay.com/itm/115569835636, https://www.amazon.com/Raymond-Trouard-Une-Pour-Piano/dp/B0017YZIIW. Link to Grieg Concerto - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGVYdTY_uxM

Jed discusses Claudio Arrau: The Ambassador Auditorium Recitals, Pasadena, California, USA, 1977, 1981 and 1986 - a five CD set containing previously unpublished performances by one of the 20th century's most singular pianists. For more information, visit First Hand's website: https://firsthandrecords.com/products-page/album/claudio-arrau-the-ambassador-auditorium-recitals-pasadena-california-usa-1977-1982-1986-5cd/