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 — 4 Mar 2013

Zarebski: Piano Quintet, Quartet, Plowright

This recording from two obscure Polish composers is another first for the Hyperion label. Both works are excellent examples of chamber music from the Romantic period and wouldn’t be out…

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Review — 28 Nov 2012

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

[[Laini_Taylor]]The problem with books like these is that they end. At some point you must come to the end of the book and be kept on tenterhooks until the next…

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Review — 19 Nov 2012

Gershwin & Me, Simon Tedeschi

Simon Tedeschi is well known around these parts as a consummate pianist who is not only considered one of our best musicians around, but also presents likeable and accessible music…

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Review — 30 Aug 2012

Shostakovich Symphonies 1-3, Wigglesworth

Who doesn’t love a good Shostakovich Symphony? There are not many orchestral musicians who don’t adore the exciting and virtuosic fifteen symphonies that he wrote. Mark Wigglesworth is one of…

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Review — 2 Nov 2012

Shostakovich: Symphonies 1-3, Wigglesworth

Who doesn’t love a goodShostakovich Symphony?There are not manyorchestral musicians whodon’t adore the exciting andvirtuosic fifteen symphoniesthat he wrote. Mark Wigglesworth is one ofthose rare conductors who not only enjoys…

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Review — 9 Jan 2013

Rossini: Moses in Eygpt DVD

This production of Rossini’s tragic sacred drama, Moses in Eygpt created a lot of uneasy waves when people saw the parallels the Director and designer, Graham Vick had drawn between…

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Review — 9 Jan 2013

Handel: Deidamia DVD

Handel Operas are very popular for not only DVD releases but also reworkings into unusual and modernistic retellings. This is just one of those productions. Unusual set designs with weird…

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Review — 26 Sep 2012

Steve Reich, Drumming

There is something primal and exciting about Steve Reich’s music. Drumming is one of his most famous works and in this re-release as part of a new series with Deutsche…

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Review — 26 Sep 2012

John Cage, As It Is

This recording opens so delicately, with a gentle solo piano it sounds like we’ve entered a strange world of otherness that eventually morphs into the soulful voice of Natalia Pschenitschnikova…

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Review — 26 Sep 2012

Stephen Hough's French Piano Album

There is something quite whimsical about Stephen Hough’s interpretation of some of the best loved French piano works. Although there are some rather odd inclusions in this album of French…

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