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 — 29 Feb 2012
Telemann: Wind Concertos Vol 7
Is there anything more soulful than an oboe? I’d be hard pressed to find anything that would beat Luise Baumgartl’s performance of the opening movement of the Concerto in C…
Review — 5 Aug 2012
Women of Note by Rosalind Appleby
With over 16 composers featured, this book looks at female composers in Australia. This slim but important volume is beautifully presented and unlike anything else available. From the trail blazers…
Review — 27 Feb 2012
Leaving Alexandria by Richard Holloway
When I was given this book to read I’d not heard of Richard Holloway in a meaningful way. I’d seen his books around the store, particularly Between the Monster and…
Review — 3 May 2012
Beethoven String Quartets 13 & 15, Fitzwilliam Quartet
The Fitzwilliam String Quartet is one of those rare beasts in classical music these days, a chamber group that is still going as strong today as when it was first…
Review — 30 Aug 2012
Shostakovich: Symphonies, Haitink
If you don’t know the 15 Shostakovich Symphonies, then I have to say, you’re missing out! This particular recording is 11 CDs long and also includes the Six Poems of…
Review — 3 May 2012
Liszt: Tone Poems and Orchestral Works
Often forgotten amongst stories of the mania surrounding his piano playing, Franz Liszt’s orchestral works are some of the greatest ever written. Credited with creating the symphonic poem genre, this…
Review — 3 May 2012
Elgar Orchestral Works, Eduard van Beinum
This release, originally recorded in 1949-51, is an unusual look at the music of Sir Edward Elgar. Although the orchestra is the London Philharmonic, the cellist Anthony Pini firmly raised…
Review — 11 Jul 2012
Mahler: Symphony No 9, LSO Live
This symphony is one of the truly stunning works for orchestra, at times serene and loving and others anguished and devastated. There are moments within this recording that will make…
Review — 28 Mar 2012
Death of Klinghoffer, Adams
This is a very confronting story, without the operatic music by John Adams. It’s based on the true events of 1985 when the Palestine Liberation Front hijacked a passenger liner…
Review — 11 Apr 2012
Offenbach, La Vie Parisienne
It’s not often in Australia that we get to see full Offenbach operas, or much of his repertoire in fact. After watching this, I feel that is a real shame…