May 1st, 2009 sees the launch of the eagerly awaited Retrospect Ensemble, the new identity of the leading early music group previously known as The King's Consort. Conducted by Matthew Halls, Retrospect Ensemble intends to take its musicians and audiences on a new journey – exploring the repertoire of four centuries, embracing the practices, styles and aesthetics of former ages with renewed vigour and a fresh approach.  As well as this performance of Handel’s Jephtha,Norfolk and Norwich Festival, Retrospect Ensemble already boasts an annual Wigmore Hall season, a recording partnership with Hyperion Records, prestigious festival dates across the UK and tours overseas. which opens the 2009

The arrival of Retrospect Ensemble has been warmly received by the British music establishment. 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, a programme of Bach cantatas with Robin Blaze and a performance of Purcell’s Fairy QueenThe 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. featuring the group’s important Young Artist Programme.

Following their debut concert at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival – appropriately a festival with a long established reputation for early performances of Handel oratorio – the Ensemble’s engagements include a concert of Bach cantatas at the Edinburgh International Festival with Carolyn Sampson, performances of an all Vivaldi programme with Robin Blaze at the Chelsea Festival and, further afield, tours to Korea, Israel, Portugal and Switzerland.

Following the critically acclaimed release of its world premiere recording of Handel’s Parnasso in Festa on the Hyperion label, the ensemble will be announcing exciting recording plans in the near future.

Artistic Director Matthew Halls has established himself as one of today’s leading young conductors. His 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, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo.

Appearances:

The Retrospect Ensemble, with Robin Blaze, St Mary’s Church, June 14th