New Arts International

- A new discovery from Gunar Lezbor and his ever-investigating group Ars Antiqua Austria represents their thirteen release on Challenge Classics
- Amandus Ivanschiz belongs to that huge number of composers linked to the Lambach Abbey in Austria
- Lezbor and his group have selected a group or works for strings (one with the addition of two horns) which are performed with the usual philological and expressive care.

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. The extensive oeuvre of this master, who only lived to the age of 31, is astonishing. In total, more than 300 copies of his works can be found in Central and Eastern Europe. His modern style and great compositional mastery probably explain the wide dissemination of his music. Ivanschiz might therefore also have served as a model in the development of the young Mozart. Amadeus’ first visit to the monastery is documented on 12 September 1767, after which we know he returned at least another three times.

Chamber music at the Abbey of Lambach