Retrospect Trio

Retrospect Trio

This recording marks the debut of Retrospect Trio, an exciting new chamber group formed under the umbrella of the larger Retrospect brand in order to focus specifically on the rich and varied trio sonata repertoire of the seventeenth and eighteenth century. The four members of the group are all distinguished international performers in their own right with a shared passion for historically-informed music-making. This recording marks the first in a two-disc series exploring the timeless beauty of Henry Purcell's sonatas, marking the 350th anniversary of the celebrated English composer's birth.

Click here for more information about Retrospect Ensemble. 

Sophie Gent violin

Sophie Gent was born in Perth, Western Australia.  In 2002 she was awarded first prizes in two chamber music competitions, the International Van Wassenaer Competition (The Netherlands) and the International Premio Bonporti Concours (Italy), with the ensemble Opera Quarta. Sophie is active as a soloist and chamber musician, performing and recording frequently as concertmater with the Ricercar Consort, Il Gardellino, Capriccio Stravagante, Les Muffatti, Ensemble Masques and as also member of the period instrument string quartet ‘Mito Dell'arco', based in Japan.

Matthew Truscott violin

Matthew Truscott studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague and in Bloomington, Indiana where his teachers were  Erich Gruenberg, Simon Standage,Vera Beths and Mauricio Fucs. He now shares his time between period instrument performance and 'modern' chamber music, appearing with some of the finest musicians in both fields.  As a soloist and director Matthew has appeared with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Konzerthaus Vienna and London's Queen Elizabeth Hall.  Matthew is professor of baroque violin at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Jonathan Manson bass viol

Jonathan Manson pursues a varied international career as a performer on both cello and viola da gamba.  While still a student, he became a founding member of the viol quartet Phantasm, which has since toured worldwide and earned several record prizes, including Gramophone Awards in both 1997 and 2004.  In 1999, he was appointed principal cellist of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, with whom he has since performed and recorded more than 150 Bach cantatas.  Jonathan lives near London, where he is a professor at the Royal Academy of Music.

Matthew Halls harpsichord/organ

Matthew Halls is one of Britain's most exciting young conductors as well as a leading harpsichordist and organist.  He has enjoyed a busy and exciting career, playing with many of the world's leading period instrument orchestras, including the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Les Arts Florissants, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Academy of Ancient Music, the Theatre of Early Music, Montreal and the New York Collegium. As a soloist he has appeared at the Cheltenham International Festival; Handel Festival, Halle; Enescu Festival, Bucharest; Ottawa International Chamber Festival; Lamèque Festival; New Brunswick and Bermuda Festival.