RETROSPECT ENSEMBLE

“Retrospect Ensemble” was launched on 1 May 2009, on  the basis of … It gave its inaugural UK performance at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, opening the festival with a critically acclaimed performance of Handel’s late masterpiece, Jephtha. Recent concert appearances have included a recital at the Edinburgh International Festival with soprano Carolyn Sampson and foreign tours to the Republic of Korea, Portugal and Switzerland.
Conducted by Matthew Halls, Retrospect Ensemble is exploring the repertoire of four centuries and embracing the practices, styles and aesthetics of former ages with renewed vigour.
This versatility has led to the formation of a small fixed-personnel group, Retrospect Trio, in which Matthew Halls is joined by three of Europe’s leading period string specialists: Matthew Truscott, Sophie Gent and Jonathan Manson. The group’s debut CD recording of Purcell’s exquisite Sonatas of four parts was chosen as ‘CD of the week’ by The Sunday Times and selected as ‘Editor’s Choice’ by Gramophone Magazine, in addition to being nominated for a Classic FM Gramophone Award in the Baroque Instrumental Category.
The arrival of Retrospect Ensemble has been warmly received and forming the backbone of its UK concert season is their 2009-2010 series at Wigmore Hall.
Forthcoming projects include tours to Israel, Portugal, Singapore and Germany.

MATTHEW HALLS

Matthew Halls has established himself as one of today’s leading young conductors. A former Artistic Director of The King’s Consort, he has conducted in prominent venues including Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam; La Cité de la Musique, Paris; the Konzerthaus, Berlin; and at the Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels.
Matthew Halls is now firmly established as a conductor of international repute, having made significant debuts with orchestras such as Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Norrkoping Symphony, Iceland Symphony and Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo. Subsequent successes with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Hamburg Symphony, Handelfestspiele Halle and Central City Opera Colorado have all led to reinvitations. Other forthcoming engagements include concerts with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Het Residentie Orkest, Les Violons du Roy and his debut with the Salzburg Landestheater.