Kate Rockstrom
Kate Rockstrom regularly reviews classical music for Readings. She also performs as a flautist, as well as writing about music and books.
Review — 22 Oct 2017
Schubert: Piano Sonatas D959 & D960 by Krystian Zimerman
I think I need to be honest and say I’ve been on a bit of a Schubert bandwagon lately – though mostly his symphonic and chamber repertoire – so it…
Review — 24 Sep 2017
Il Diavolo by Accademia Arcadia
Many people know the story of the Devil’s Trill Sonata by Tartini. How he dreamed one night he made a pact with the devil, who took up Tartini’s violin and…
Review — 20 Aug 2017
Splendid Harmony by L'arpa festante
The concept behind this album is very interesting. It’s not an homage to a person as such, it’s a homage to his legacy through his teaching. It features five different…
Review — 23 Jul 2017
Medtner: Piano Concerto No. 1 / Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 by Jayson Gillham, MSO and Benjamin Northey
I love discovering new (but old and forgotten) composers and their long-neglected compositions. Everyone knows Rachmaninoff, his famous piano concertos (the second of which is on this album) and symphonic…
Review — 25 Jun 2017
Mozart in Havana by Simone Dinnerstein & José Antonio Méndez Padrón
On the first listen through this album, I was presented with Mozart in his most recognisable form. There was bounce to the phrasing, with delicacy and depth to the timbre…
Review — 29 May 2017
Chaconnes and Fantasias: Music of Britten and Purcell by Emerson String Quartet
At first glance, you might think Purcell and Britten have nothing in common bar their English origin. However, when you dig deeper you find that Britten was somewhat of a…
Review — 26 Apr 2017
Songs Without Words by the Grigoryan Brothers
If you say the words ‘Grigoryan brothers’ to most classical music fans, they’ll smile and nod knowingly. Renowned for their musicianship since they were teenagers, they’ve released five albums together…
Review — 26 Mar 2017
J.S. Bach: Trios by Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer
For many people, the name Yo-Yo Ma immediately brings to mind the Bach Cello Suites and Ma’s bestselling album; the album that has defined many a young cellist’s ideas about…
Review — 23 Feb 2017
Philip Glass: Piano Works by Vikingur Olafsson
Vikingur Olafsson is an unknown around this neck of the woods, but he has been voted ‘Musician of the Year’ in his native Iceland four times, is the music director…
Review — 20 Oct 2016
JS Bach: French Suites
Bach Piano music can be quite daunting for the uninitiated. The complex melodic ideas and constant rhythmic pulse typical of his style feels like it’s turning in on itself and…