The members of Ricordo came together in 1997 to explore and share their enthusiasm for the rich and varied repertoire of the 17th century. They focused initially on the musical links between Austria and Italy and the flamboyant instrumental genre known as Stylus Phantasticus, performing violin sonatas by Marini, Pandoli Mealli, Walther, Schmelzer and of course Biber. Their repertoire now takes in English and North German composers; they have also expanded their forces to include cornett, sackbutt and dulcian, to perform music from the Hamburg Collegium Musicum, focusing on the composer Weckmann.

Born in Transylvania, Kati Debretzeni emigrated to Israel at the age of 15. She studied violin with Ora Shiran, and the Baroque violin with Catherine Mackintosh and Walter Reiter. As a chamber musician, Kati is violinist and leader of Florilegium with whom she records for Channel Classics.

Matthew Wadsworth studied the lute at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Nigel North. After graduating in 1997 he studied at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague. He is now well established as both a continuo player and chamber musician and has travelled extensively throughout Europe, giving both lute song and solo recitals.

Born in New Zealand, Penelope Spencer studied violin performance at Auckland University, graduating in 1990. From 1991 Penelope began her fulltime study of baroque violin with Sigiswald Kuijken at The Royal Conservatory in The Hague, and Alda Stuurop at the Utrecht Conservatory. She currently performs regularly with the English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner.

Adam Woolf graduated in 1997 from the Royal Academy of Music where he studied baroque trombone with Sue Addison. During this time, he became a founder member of the QuintEssential Sackbut and Cornett Ensemble and began freelancing with other groups including His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts.