Austria

The Ensemble Fiori Musicali Austria was founded by the Italian harpsichordist and pianist Marinka Brecelj in 2002 to perform Renaissance and Baroque music from Italy. Over the years, crossover elements of traditional Italian, Sephardic, Oriental or South American music have also enriched the spectrum, as can be impressively experienced on the album "Baroque Arabesque".

Amandus Ivanschiz was baptised Matthias Leopold Ivanschiz on 24 December 1727 in the Austrian city of Wiener Neustadt. As early as 1742, at the age of fifteen, Matthias decided to join the Pauline Order and took the name Amandus. On 25 December 1743 Amandus took his vows and was then sent to Maria Trost and Wiener Neustadt to study for the priesthood.

Ars Antiqua Austria was founded in Linz in 1989 with the aim of introducing audiences to the roots of specifically Austrian baroque music played on period-instruments. The music performed at the imperial court in Vienna at this period shows the strong influence of Italy and later of French forms, while Spanish court ceremonials also shape the character of the works. The typical Austrian sound of the period also betrays the influence of the many Crownlands. The political and social boundaries of Austria in the baroque era were far wider than in the 20th century.