Ensemble Eduard Melkus is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1965 by the Austrian violinist Eduard Melkus. The ensemble is known for its performances of Baroque and Classical music, particularly the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Eduard Melkus was born in Vienna in 1928 and began studying the violin at a young age. He went on to study at the Vienna Music Academy and later with the renowned violinist and conductor, Felix Prohaska. Melkus became a member of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in 1951 and later joined the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in 1959. In 1965, Melkus founded the Ensemble Eduard Melkus with the aim of exploring the music of the Baroque and Classical periods on period instruments. The ensemble consisted of Melkus on violin, Karl Scheit on lute and guitar, and Nikolaus Harnoncourt on cello and viola da gamba. The ensemble quickly gained a reputation for its innovative and historically informed performances, and went on to perform at major music festivals throughout Europe. One of the highlights of the ensemble's early career was their performance of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos at the Salzburg Festival in 1967. The performance was highly acclaimed and helped to establish the ensemble as one of the leading interpreters of Baroque music. The ensemble also recorded a number of albums for the Deutsche Grammophon label, including a highly regarded recording of Mozart's Violin Concertos. Over the years, the ensemble's lineup changed as members left and new musicians joined. However, the ensemble continued to maintain its commitment to historically informed performance practices and to exploring the music of the Baroque and Classical periods. In addition to performing and recording, the ensemble also became involved in music education, giving masterclasses and workshops for young musicians. In 1998, the ensemble celebrated its 30th anniversary with a series of concerts and a new recording of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. The ensemble continued to perform and record throughout the 2000s, with highlights including a performance of Mozart's Requiem at the Salzburg Festival in 2006 and a recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations in 2008. In 2010, Eduard Melkus retired from the ensemble and was succeeded by the violinist Johannes Pramsohler. The ensemble continued to perform and record under Pramsohler's leadership, with highlights including a recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons in 2013 and a performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion at the Bachfest Leipzig in 2014. Throughout its history, Ensemble Eduard Melkus has been recognized for its contributions to the field of historically informed performance. The ensemble has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Grand Prix du Disque and the Diapason d'Or. The ensemble's recordings continue to be highly regarded by critics and music lovers alike, and its performances are considered to be among the finest examples of historically informed performance practice.

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