Founded in 2024 by soprano Raquel Mendes and harpsichordist Rafaela Salgado, Ensemble L’Amoureux Empire aims to give voice to the talent and creativity of its founders through historically informed performances of 17th- and 18th-century music in its most intimate form, reduced to its primordial essence: voice and basso continuo.

The name "L’Amoureux Empire" evokes the dominance of passion and emotional expression that characterizes Baroque music, particularly in vocal genres such as the aria and the lament, which were so deeply cultivated by composers—both women and men—of the time.

In 2024, the ensemble was awarded 1st Prize in the Baroque Music category of the Prémio Jovens Músicos/Antena 2, Portugal’s most prestigious national music competition, establishing itself as one of the most promising emerging ensembles on the Portuguese music scene.

Its repertoire includes works by female composers such as Barbara Strozzi and Antonia Bembo, as well as male composers like Claudio Monteverdi, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Luigi Rossi, and Sigismondo d’India, exploring universal themes such as love, devotion, suffering, and spiritual transfiguration. 

In 2025, the ensemble will record its debut CD, dedicated to exploring the dramatic intensity of Italian Seicento music. 

Beyond its performance activity, L’Amoureux Empire seeks to foster research and interdisciplinary dialogue, building bridges between musicology, performance, and contemporary artistic creation

Combining stylistic rigor, virtuosity, and a strong expressive dimension, L’Amoureux Empire positions itself as a leading artistic project in the early music landscape in Portugal.