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 — 1 Feb 2022
Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande Suite & Schoenberg: Pelléas und Mélisande, Op. 5 by Orchestre de la Suisse Romande & Jonathan Nott
The love story of Pelléas and Mélisande is the classic story of wife, husband and lover. While it’s full of drama and everyone important dies in the end, Maeterlinck’s play…
Review — 1 Feb 2022
Schumann Cello by Zoe Knighton & Amir Farid
Clara Schumann was a giant in the world of music in the 1800s. Strong in personality, technically proficient and musically brilliant as both a pianist and composer, in her 76…
Review — 2 Nov 2021
Agnus Dei by The Sixteen & Harry Christophers
Religion is at the heart of many an artists’ inspiration. Composers throughout the ages, such as Bach, Handel and many others, held deeply spiritual connections to their God and used…
Review — 2 Nov 2021
Four Visions of France: French Cello Concertos by Daniel Müller-Schott, DSO Berlin & Alexandre Bloch
Colours are where it’s at in this album. Tonal colours, historical colours and all the colours of France. Although these works range from 1872 all the way through to 1929…
Review — 2 Nov 2021
12 Stradivari by Janine Jansen & Antonio Pappano
Most people have heard of Stradivari, a violin maker from the late 17th century and early 18th century. His house produced almost a thousand high-quality violins, around 650 of which…
Review — 3 Oct 2021
Homage to Bach: The Solo Violin Sonatas by Brodsky Quartet & Paul Cassidy
Some people just like making life difficult for themselves. Paul Cassidy, the violist of the Brodsky Quartet must be one of those people. He’s taken three solo violin sonatas by…
Review — 3 Oct 2021
Mahler: Symphony No. 7 by Bayerisches Staatsorchester & Kirill Petrenko
The opening of Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 always sends shivers down my spine. That opening tenor horn solo, when done right, seems to be a herald of grand adventures to…
Review — 29 Sep 2021
Hope by Daniel Hope and Zürcher Kammerorchester
There is something truly breathtaking in hearing a choir sing in our current moment; hearing all those voices coming together after so long apart almost brings tears to my eyes…
Review — 6 Sep 2021
First Light: Muhly & Glass by Pekka Kuusisto & Norwegian Chamber Orchestra
This recording felt like a musical representation of the last 18 months. From a world premiere recording to a piece that was recorded on separate continents, it’s a miracle that…
Review — 6 Sep 2021
Echoes of Life by Alice Sara Ott
The past will always echo through the years, affecting the future in ways that are surprising and often far reaching. Would Chopin have guessed that in the year 2021 we…