Ensemble Trapèze is a truly international quintet based in the Netherlands. The members, coming from Spain to New Zealand, got to know each other at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague, where they all are finishing their studies. After meeting in school projects the five musicians gathered in 2017 to play a one-off performance of the Prokofiev Quintet op. 39 for a simple performance class. The experience was so enthralling that they decided to continue playing together, forming the ensemble seen today.

Prokofiev was commissioned to write music for a travelling ballet troupe. With only a oboe, clarinet, violin, viola and double bass available, Prokofiev created his chamber ballet work Trapèze. The ballet was considered too challenging for both the musicians and dancers, so was discarded after two performances. However Prokofiev was so fond of the music he composed that he reduced the ballet to a stand-alone chamber work, the quintet op. 39.

Trapèze have worked on the Prokofiev quintet thoroughly, receiving lessons and coaching sessions with teachers from the Royal Conservatory, creating and developing their own, unique interpretation. They are currently working on the interesting and challenging project of presenting this quintet as it was first intended, performing it as a ballet. They are currently working with a modern dancer to give new light to this characterful and engaging music.

Of course the main difficulty of forming such an ensemble is the lack of repertoire. For them, this has become an opportunity, giving them the chance to work with composers and to also arrange music themselves. It is such a versatile combination, with a varied and colourful tonal palate and a capacity to explore many different musical styles. Already some works have been arranged and commissioned and plans for future programs are under way