Start largest ever retrospective with a lively celebration (5)
I believe the answer is:
revel
'a lively celebration' is the definition.
'revel' can be an answer for 'celebration' (revel is a kind of celebration). I am not certain of the 'a lively' bit.
'start largest ever retrospective' is the wordplay.
'start' indicates taking the first letters.
'retrospective' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
The first letter of 'largest' is 'l'.
'l'+'ever'='lever'
'lever' written backwards gives 'REVEL'.
'with' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for revel that I've seen before include "party" , "Make merry, whoop it up" , "Make merry, have a ball" , "Carouse" , "Take great delight (in)" .)