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 — 5 Jun 2012

Albrecht Mayer, Song of the Reeds

There is something truly marvellous about a really good oboist. Albrecht Mayer is considered one of the best oboists in the world. His choice of repertoire is, as always inspired…

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Review — 29 Feb 2012

Schubert: The Trout Quintet, Seraphim Trio

Schubert’s Piano Quintet in A Major, commonly referred to as simply, ‘The Trout’ sends shivers of delight down the back of my spine whenever I hear it. Here it’s performed…

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Review — 18 Mar 2012

Debussy, Szymanowski: Piano Works, Rafal Blechacz

Rafal Blechacz is a Polish pianist who is already internationally known, after sweeping up all five prizes in the 15th International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in 2005. This is his…

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Review — 22 Apr 2012

Secrets of the Tides by Hannah Richell

The tagline for this book is ‘Every Family Has Its Secrets’ and as everyone is aware, every family does. The Tides are a ‘normal’ family; a mum, a dad and…

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Review — 3 May 2012

Beethoven String Quartets 9 & 10, Amadeus

It is wonderful that Decca and Eloquence together keep great musical genius alive and available for a new generation of listeners. The renowned Amadeus String Quartet disbanded in 1987 when…

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Review — 23 Feb 2012

Contemporary Flute Concertos, Pahud

This is really exciting for me, a CD of contemporary flute concertos! More than that, it features three composers I’ve not heard of, who are all still alive and their…

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Review — 29 Feb 2012

Rossini: Barber of Seville

Oh Rossini, you’ve given barber’s a bad name! Our cheeky Figaro comes centre stage again to delight us from the Opera national de Paris. Although this particular production was recorded…

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Review — 29 Feb 2012

Joshua Bell, Nobel Prize Concert

In 2010 the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Chinese activist Liu Xiaobo, amid great furor from the Chinese. Although there is no prize ever awarded to musicians, the organizers…

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Review — 29 Feb 2012

Faure: Cello Sonatas

When I first put this CD into the player and the first few bars jumped out of the speakers, I thought I’d inserted the wrong CD. Instead of the lyrical…

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Review — 29 Feb 2012

Slavic Heroes, Kwiecien

The power and grace of Polish Baritone Mariusz Kwiecien’s voice is clearly apparent on his first solo recording on Harmonia Mundi. These are arias close to his heart, all from…

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