Retrospect Ensemble

Retrospect Ensemble

May 1st, 2009 sees the much-anticipated launch of Retrospect Ensemble with a performance of Handel's spectacular late
masterpiece, Jephtha, at the 2009 Norfolk and Norwich Festival. Led by the dynamic young conductor and keyboard player, Matthew Halls, (former Artistic Director of The King's Consort) Retrospect Ensemble intends to take its musicians and audiences on an exciting journey, exploring the repertoire of four centuries and embracing the practices, styles and aesthetics of former ages with renewed vigour and a fresh approach. The choice of name ensures that the group will not be identified with one particular area of music or historical period, an approach typical of the ensemble's inquisitive and energetic musicians.

Forming the backbone of its UK concert season will be a series at Wigmore Hall. Retrospect's first season at Wigmore Hall in 2009/10 will include performances of Handel's Apollo e Dafne, Bach cantatas with countertenor, Robin Blaze, orchestral masterpieces by Mozart and Haydn and a performance of Purcell's Fairy Queen featuring soloists from the group's Young Artist Programme.

In addition to opening the 2009 Norfolk and Norwich Festival with a special performance to mark the 250th anniversary year of Handel's death, other forthcoming engagements include a concert of Bach cantatas at the Edinburgh International Festival with soprano Carolyn Sampson, performances of Vivaldi cantatas in the UK with Robin Blaze and, further afield, tours to Korea, Israel, Portugal and Switzerland.

Artistic Director Matthew Halls' recent engagements include performances in prominent venues such as Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam; La Cité de la Musique, Paris; the Konzerthaus, Berlin; the Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels; and guest conducting
engagements with orchestras such as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Hessischer Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester, Norrköping Sinfonieorchester, and Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo.