In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.
This second Purcell release by Retrospect Trio has been hotly anticipated since its debut recording, a Finalist at the 2009 Gramophone Awards, was released; BBC Music Magazine described the follow up as “a mouthwatering matter of urgency."
The four Baroque instrumentalist super stars - Sophie Gent (violin), Matthew Truscott (violin), Jonathan Manson (cello and viola da gamba) and Matthew Halls (director, keyboards) - are reunited in ‘Henry Purcell: Twelve Sonatas in Three Parts’.
Recorded at St George’s, Chesterton, the recording beautifully captures the timeless beauty of Purcell’s most highly regarded instrumental works.
Founded by Matthew Halls, Retrospect Ensemble takes 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.
Retrospect performs regularly at Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall, London, and has appeared at major UK festivals including the Edinburgh International Festival and Norfolk and Norwich Festival.
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 throughout the UK and Europe.
Sonata I in G minor, Z.790: [.]
Sonata I in G minor, Z.790: Vivace
Sonata I in G minor, Z.790: Adagio
Sonata I in G minor, Z.790: Presto
Sonata I in G minor, Z.790: Largo
Sonata II in Bb Major, Z.791: [.]
Sonata II in Bb Major, Z.791: Largo
Sonata II in Bb Major, Z.791: Presto
Sonata II in Bb Major, Z.791: Adagio
Sonata II in Bb Major, Z.791: Vivace
Sonata II in Bb Major, Z.791: Allegro
Sonata III in D minor, Z.792: [.]
Sonata III in D minor, Z.792: Adagio
Sonata III in D minor, Z.792: Canzona
Sonata III in D minor, Z.792: Adagio
Sonata III in D minor, Z.792: Poco Largo
Sonata III in D minor, Z.792: Allegro
Sonata IV in F Major, Z.793: [.]
Sonata IV in F Major, Z.793: Canzona
Sonata IV in F Major, Z.793: Poco Largo
Sonata IV in F Major, Z.793: Allegro
Sonata V in A minor, Z.794: [.]
Sonata V in A minor, Z.794: Adagio
Sonata V in A minor, Z.794: Largo
Sonata V in A minor, Z.794: Grave
Sonata V in A minor, Z.794: Canzona
Sonata V in A minor, Z.794: Adagio
Sonata VI in C Major, Z.795: [.]
Sonata VI in C Major, Z.795: Canzona
Sonata VI in C Major, Z.795: Largo
Sonata VI in C Major, Z.795: Allegro
Sonata VII in E minor, Z.796: [.]
Sonata VII in E minor, Z.796: Canzona
Sonata VII in E minor, Z.796: Largo
Sonata VII in E minor, Z.796: Grave
Sonata VII in E minor, Z.796: Vivace
Sonata VII in E minor, Z.796: Adagio
Sonata VIII in G Major, Z.797: [.]
Sonata VIII in G Major, Z.797: Poco Largo
Sonata VIII in G Major, Z.797: Allegro
Sonata VIII in G Major, Z.797: Grave
Sonata VIII in G Major, Z.797: Vivace
Sonata IX in C minor, Z.798: [.]
Sonata IX in C minor, Z.798: Largo
Sonata IX in C minor, Z.798: Canzona
Sonata IX in C minor, Z.798: Adagio
Sonata IX in C minor, Z.798: Allegro
Sonata X in A Major, Z.799: [.]
Sonata X in A Major, Z.799: Largo
Sonata X in A Major, Z.799: Grave
Sonata X in A Major, Z.799: Presto
Sonata XI in F minor, Z.800: [.]
Sonata XI in F minor, Z.800: Canzona
Sonata XI in F minor, Z.800: Adagio
Sonata XI in F minor, Z.800: Largo
Sonata XII in D Major, Z.801: [.]
Sonata XII in D Major, Z.801: Canzona
Sonata XII in D Major, Z.801: Poco Largo
Sonata XII in D Major, Z.801: Grave
Sonata XII in D Major, Z.801: Presto
Sonata XII in D Major, Z.801: Allegro
2nd October 2011
“The crushing dissonances produced by Sophie Gent and Matthew Truscott (alternating as first and second violinists) give the adagio and grave movements a sensuous piquancy, while the spirit of the dance sparkles irresistibly in the allegros and canzonas. Matthew Halls, on organ and harpsichord, and Jonathan Manson, on bass viol, supply gravitas and tonal variety. Entrancing.”
December 2011
*****
“[the Retrospect Trio] speak the language of Purcell as naturally as if it was their mother tongue. There isn't a nuance that escapes them...The conversational cut and thrust is always dapper and supremely cogent, the textures elucidated with a springy clarity, and the transitions from section to section are dispatched with instinctive fluency and decisiveness. It's superbly recorded as well.”
December 2011
*****
“They engage with these youthful masterpieces with exuberance, lightness and respect for their dazzling genius. They thrill in the fugal Canzonas and move us in the profound Adagios.....Matthew Halls alternates between breathy organ and sparkling harpsichord, improvising freely and binding a beautifully balanced ensemble. The Retrospect Trio trample on previous views that these works are sub-standard Purcell.”
The Arts Desk
12th November 2011
“Sophie Gent and Matthew Truscott are so well matched as violin soloists, supported by Jonathan Manson’s gorgeous bass viol. Time stands still in several of Purcell’s incredibly concentrated slow movements – it’s with disbelief that you read the track listing and note that some last barely a minute. Which is not to say that this is a disc of gloomy Baroque navel-gazing - the faster movements really dance in these players’ hands.”
December 2011
“these performances convey rhetorical suggestions of speaking intimately, unforced breathing, and listening attentively. The Retrospect Trio achieves rich sonorities when Purcell springs extraordinary harmonic surprises, such as the dizzying chromatic sequence in the Adagio of No. 3 and melancholic C minor passages throughout No. 9. These delightful endeavours should win plenty of friends.”
Click here for alternative recordings of this work.
Sonata I in G minor, Z.790: [.]
