Roctet is the Netherlands' first permanent string octet and has gained a unique position in the chamber music world since its founding in 2016. Known for its expressive and energetic playing style, the ensemble is heard on both national and international stages. Besides performances in leading concert halls, Roctet can regularly be heard in live broadcasts on radio and television. A highlight was its acclaimed debut in the Great Hall of The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
January 2025 saw the release of Roctet's second album CHANGES, featuring as the title work a new piece by Theo Loevendie, composed especially for the ensemble. Also heard on this album are Respighi's Octet and the monumental Octet by George Enescu. For this album, Roctet was nominated for an Edison Klassiek 2025 in the chamber music category, a recognition that underlines the ensemble's leading position within Dutch chamber music. The album was met with praise in the press. “Another bullseye” wrote Trouw, praising the ensemble for its “incredible precision and joie de vivre.The Parool spoke of “a little piece of magic that moves the listener to tears several times”.
In 2020, Roctet released his debut album Novoselye – Housewarming out on Challenge Records International, featuring works by Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and the world premiere of Novoselye by Nikolay Afanasyev.
With a relentless drive to innovate the string octet repertoire, Roctet remains committed to raising the profile of this unique chamber music genre. By combining great classics with new, groundbreaking compositions, the ensemble aims to firmly establish the string octet as a full-fledged ensemble.
'…The eight string players of the Dutch ensemble Roctet asked Theo Loevendie to write a new work for their album. Loevendie wrote Changes and calls the piece “a celebration of the beauty of change, both in music and in life. It reminds us that every moment, every note, is a step towards something new.” Roctet […]
