Francesco Cera, harpsichordist, organist and conductor, is regarded as one of Italy’s leading early music specialist, internationally recognized for his performances of 17th and 18th century keyboard music, as well as conductor of Italian vocal repertoire.

Francesco Cera è oggi uno dei più validi e talentosi clavicembalisti e organisti.
Nicoletta Sguben – Amadeus gennaio 2006

Francesco Cera is one of Italy’s most prominent keyboard players. His playing is superb. He has a good feeling for the refinement and elegance of d’Anglebert’s music.
Music Web International april 2016 – Recording of the month

He gets under the skin of the music with great perception. He identifies strongly with the historical Italian organ.
Anne Bond – Choir and Organ

Francesco Cera is one example of a virtuoso musician with an extensive cultural training. His performance is clean and passionate.
Dinko Fabris – Goldberg february 2000 

 

News

July 2017
NEW CD “Erotica Antiqua – Neapolitan Villanellas” Brilliant Classics
Letizia Calandra voice
Ensemble Arte Musica (Michele Pasotti vihuela, Massimiliano Dragoni percussions, Silvia De Maria viola da gamba, Serena Bellini recorder, Francesco Tomasi renaissance guitar)
Francesco Cera harpsichord and musical direction
Villanellas by 16th century anonymous, Di Lasso, Da Nola, Dell’Arpa, Falconieri

September 2017
Monteverdi – Madrigali guerrieri
Ensemble Arte Musica conducted by Francesco Cera will perform Monteverdi Madrigali guerrieri at Sagra Musicale Malatestiana in Rimini and Roma Europa Festival with a new production combining music and a theatrical performance staged by the group Muta Imago

 

Concerts

2017

January 1
San Mauro Forte (Matera) – chiesa madre
Francesco Cera plays an anonymous 18th century organ
works by Frescobaldi, Correa de Arauxo, Bach

January 17
Matera – Conservatorio E.R. Duni
masterclass “ La toccata barocca” part 1
Francesco Cera and M.Antonietta Cancellaro
works by Frescobaldi

January 29
Grimstad (Norway) – Fjaere kirke
dedication concert of the new organ built by Giuseppe Ponzani
after Ennio Bonifazi Rome 1638
Francesco Cera plays works by Frescobaldi, Kerll, Froberger,
Buxtehude, Bach, Vivaldi-Bach

February 7
Matera – Conservatorio E.R. Duni
masterclass “La toccata barocca” part 2
works by Rossi, Merula, Salvatore and Pasquini

March 1
Roma – Festival Frescobaldi
Francesco Cera harpsichord
Francesco Romano theorbo
works by Frescobaldi and Kapsberger

March 7
Matera – Conservatorio E.R. Duni
masterclass “La toccata barocca” part 3
works by Froberger and L. Couperin

March 29
Oslo (Norway) – Ladegard Concert Hall
Ensemble Arte Musica
Monteverdi – Madrigali a due tenori
Andres Montilla and Riccardo Pisani tenor
Silvia De Maria viola da gamba, Francesco Tomasi theorbo
Francesco Cera harpsichord

April 4
Matera – Conservatorio E.R. Duni
masterclass “La toccata barocca” part 4
works by Weckmann and Bach

April 21
Garrovillas de Alconetar (Spain) – church of St.Maria
Francesco Cera plays the 16th century organ
works by Frescobaldi and Correa de Arauxo

May 11
Milan – Accademia di Musica Antica di Milano
Ensemble Arte Musica
Marco Piantoni and Prisca Amori violin
Rebeca Ferri cello
Francesco Cera harpsichord
works by Stradella, Storace and Pasquini

May 22
Goettingen (Germany) – Haendel Festival
Franziska Gottwald mezzo
Francesco Cera harpsichord
works by Haendel, Porpora, Scarlatti, Paradisi and Haydn

August 1-3
Imperia – chiese di Chiusavecchia e Torrazza
masterclass by Francesco Cera
on 18th century organs
works by Rossi and Storace

August 29
Laureana Cilento – Palazzo Cagnano
Ensemble Arte Musica
Damiana Pinti and Lucia Napoli soprano
Andres Montilla and Riccardo Pisani tenor
Silvia De Maria viola da gamba
Francesco Tomasi theorbo and guitar
Francesco Cera harpsichord
works by D’India and Monteverdi

September 15
Corte Franca (Brescia) – chiesa di Sant’Eufemia
Francesco Cera organ
works by Merula and Correa de Arauxo

September 23
Rimini – Sagra Musicale Malatestiana
Monteverdi – Madrigali guerrieri
Ensemble Arte Musica
Francesco Cera conductor
Lucia Franzina and Daniela Salvo soprano
Alberto Allegrezza and Massimo Altieri alto
Riccardo Pisani and Andres Montilla tenor
Walter Testolin and Marcello Vargetto bass
Prisca Amori and Gabriele Politi violin
Ottavia Rausa viola, Andrea Lattarulo cello
Silvia de Maria lirone
Giovanni Bellini and Francesco Romano theorbo
Muta Imago

September 24
Rimini – Sagra Musicale Malatestiana
Francesco Cera harpsichord
“Introduzione alla musica di Girolamo Fresocobaldi”

September 28 / October 1
Roma – Roma Europa Festival
Monteverdi – Madrigali guerrieri
Ensemble Arte Musica
Muta Imago

Concerts 2016