Retrospect Ensemble
Encyclopedia
Retrospect Ensemble is a prominent British period music orchestra
, chamber ensemble and choir
with an extensive international touring and recording programme.
in 1992. King had also created the period music orchestra, The King's Consort
, in 1980.
To coincide with the charity's new identity, a new performing group, Retrospect Ensemble, was launched in May 2009. The Artistic Director is Matthew Halls, a conductor and harpsichordist who was Artistic Director of The King's Consort
between 2007 and 2009 and had also previously played with 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. Retrospect Ensemble gave its debut performance on 1 May 2009 with Handel
's Jeptha at the Norwich and Norfolk Festival.
of composers such as Mendelssohn
, Schumann
and Rachmaninoff. According to Halls:
, in a regular season at London's Wigmore Hall
, and in tours to Korea, Israel, Portugal and Switzerland. The group performs in various configurations including orchestra (from chamber orchestra to full symphony orchestra), choir and chamber ensemble. The group works with soloists such as Robin Blaze
, Gary Cooper
, Lucy Crowe, James Gilchrist
, Gillian Keith
, Carolyn Sampson and Hilary Summers
. The Retrospect Trio focuses on the repertoire of the 17th and 18th century trio sonata
.
In April 2009, Retrospect Ensemble signed a contract with Linn Records
for a series of recordings, Their first CD, Henry Purcell: 10 Sonatas in four parts, was released in May 2009.
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
, chamber ensemble and choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
with an extensive international touring and recording programme.
History
The name "Retrospect Ensemble" was adopted in May 2009 by the trustees for the musical charity then known as "The King's Consort", which had been set up by Robert KingRobert King (conductor)
Robert King is an English conductor and harpsichordist. As a youth, he was a member of the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge...
in 1992. King had also created the period music orchestra, The King's Consort
The King's Consort
The King's Consort is a prominent British period music orchestra founded in 1980 by the English conductor and harpsichordist Robert King . The ensemble has an associated choral group, Choir of The King's Consort. Together, they have made over 90 recordings, largely on the Hyperion label, and sold...
, in 1980.
To coincide with the charity's new identity, a new performing group, Retrospect Ensemble, was launched in May 2009. The Artistic Director is Matthew Halls, a conductor and harpsichordist who was Artistic Director of The King's Consort
The King's Consort
The King's Consort is a prominent British period music orchestra founded in 1980 by the English conductor and harpsichordist Robert King . The ensemble has an associated choral group, Choir of The King's Consort. Together, they have made over 90 recordings, largely on the Hyperion label, and sold...
between 2007 and 2009 and had also previously played with Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Les Arts Florissants
Les Arts Florissants (ensemble)
Les Arts Florissants is a Baroque musical ensemble in residence at the Théâtre de Caen in Caen, France. The organization was founded by conductor William Christie in 1979. The ensemble derives its name from the 1685 opera by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. The organization consists of a chamber orchestra...
, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is a British period instrument orchestra. The OAE is a resident orchestra of the Southbank Centre, London, associate orchestra at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and has its headquarters at Kings Place...
, the Academy of Ancient Music
Academy of Ancient Music
The Academy of Ancient Music is a period-instrument orchestra based in Cambridge, England. Founded by harpsichordist Christopher Hogwood in 1973, it was named after a previous organisation of the same name of the 18th century. The musicians play on either original instruments or modern copies of...
, the Theatre of Early Music, Montreal and the New York Collegium. Retrospect Ensemble gave its debut performance on 1 May 2009 with Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
's Jeptha at the Norwich and Norfolk Festival.
Repertoire and artistic direction
While the Ensemble also performs music from the 17th and 18th centuries, in naming the new group, Matthew Halls aimed to broaden its artistic direction to encompass historically-aware performanceHistorically informed performance
Historically informed performance is an approach in the performance of music and theater. Within this approach, the performance adheres to state-of-the-art knowledge of the aesthetic criteria of the period in which the music or theatre work was conceived...
of composers such as Mendelssohn
Mendelssohn
Mendelson is a Polish/German Jewish family name, meaning "son of Mendel", Mendel being a Yiddish diminutive of the Hebrew given name Menahem, meaning "consoling" or "one who consoles".Mendelssohn is the surname of a number of people:...
, Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
and Rachmaninoff. According to Halls:
"We don't want to be the next Baroque orchestra, we want to widen the parameters. For example, I'm passionate about
19th-century German music, and I want to show how it grows out of earlier music."
Performances and recordings
In 2009, Retrospect Ensemble performed at the Edinburgh FestivalEdinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of performing arts that takes place in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, over three weeks from around the middle of August. By invitation from the Festival Director, the International Festival brings top class performers of music , theatre, opera...
, in a regular season at London's Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
, and in tours to Korea, Israel, Portugal and Switzerland. The group performs in various configurations including orchestra (from chamber orchestra to full symphony orchestra), choir and chamber ensemble. The group works with soloists such as Robin Blaze
Robin Blaze
- Childhood and education :The son of a professional golfer Peter, Robin Blaze grew up in Shadwell, near Leeds and was educated at Leeds Grammar School, Uppingham School, and Magdalen College, Oxford....
, Gary Cooper
Gary Cooper (musician)
Gary Cooper is an English conductor and classical keyboardist He is particularly known as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Bach and Mozart, and as a conductor of historically informed performances of music from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods.-Career:Gary Cooper...
, Lucy Crowe, James Gilchrist
James Gilchrist (tenor)
James Gilchrist is a British tenor specialising in recital and oratoria singing. He began his working life as a doctor, turning to a full-time music career in 1996...
, Gillian Keith
Gillian Keith
Gillian Keith is a Canadian operatic soprano.Gillian Keith was educated at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, Montreal and at the Royal Academy of Music in London.-Opera:Gillian Keith's roles include:...
, Carolyn Sampson and Hilary Summers
Hilary Summers
Hilary Summers is a Welsh contralto. She was trained at Reading University, the Royal Academy of Music, and the National Opera Studio in London. She has performed on soundtracks such as The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Libertine, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy...
. The Retrospect Trio focuses on the repertoire of the 17th and 18th century trio sonata
Trio sonata
The trio sonata is a musical form that was popular in the 17th and early 18th centuries.A trio sonata is written for two solo melodic instruments and basso continuo, making three parts in all, hence the name trio sonata...
.
In April 2009, Retrospect Ensemble signed a contract with Linn Records
Linn Records
Linn Records is a Glasgow-based record label which specialises in classical, jazz and Scottish music. It is part of Linn Products.-History:While Linn engineers were testing their flagship product, the Sondek LP12 turntable, they became frustrated with some of the specialist test LPs they were using...
for a series of recordings, Their first CD, Henry Purcell: 10 Sonatas in four parts, was released in May 2009.
Recordings
- HandelHANDELHANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
: Parnasso in Festa (Diana Moore, Carolyn Sampson, Lucy Crowe, Rebecca Outram, Ruth Clegg, Peter Harvey, The King's Consort, Choir of The King's Consort, conductor Matthew Halls) Hyperion CDA67701/2. This recording won the 2009 Stanley Sadie Handel Recording Prize. - PurcellPurcellHenry Purcell was an English composer.Purcell may also refer to:*Purcell, Indiana, an unincorporated community in Johnson Township, Knox County, Indiana*Purcell, Missouri, a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States...
: Ten Sonatas in Four Parts (Retrospect Trio) Linn CKD332
External links
- Official web site of Retrospect Ensemble (accessed 1 May 2009)
- Hazard Chase, agents for Retrospect Ensemble (accessed 10 April 2009)