The Italian harpsichordist, organist and conductor Francesco Cera, is internationally recognized for his performances of 17th and 18th century keyboard music, and as a leading specialist of Frescobaldi’s keyboard works and director of vocal music.
1989-1991 he specializes with L. Ferdinando Tagliavini and Gustav Leonhardt. diploma from the Amsterdam Conservatory
1991-1994 harpsichordist of the ensemble Il Giardino Armonico, recordings for Teldec and concerts throughout Europe
1996 he founds the Ensemble Arte Musica, specializing in Italian vocal music from Gesualdo and Monteverdi, to the cantatas of the 18th century
Since 1990 he has performed solo recitals and as the director of the Ensemble Arte Musica
Musica e poesia a San Maurizio in Milan, Accademia Filarmonica in Rome, Festival Monteverdi in Cremona, Bologna Festival, Ferrara Musica, Sagra musicale Malatestiana in Rimini, Festival of Flanders,
Festival Oude Muziek in Utrecht, Resonanzen in Vienna, Baroktage Melk, Philarmonie Köln, Tage Alter Musik in Herne, Lådegard in Oslo, Festival in Maguelone, Abbaye de Saint-Michel en Thiérache, Les Sommets Musicaux in Gstaad, organ concert series in Europe, Scandinavia, and United States
1995-2015 he has collaborated with Diego Fasolis and I Barocchisti. Recordings for Arts, Virgin, and Decca with them
1996-2005 recordings with Arts, Tactus, e Tempéraments
– complete works of M.Rossi, T.Merula, B.Storace, A.Valente
– D. Scarlatti: Sonate per clavicembalo 1742
– Bach: French Suites
– Bach: Harpsichord Concertos
– Gesualdo: Madrigali libro quarto
– Monteverdi: Lamento di Arianna
– Colonna: Nisi Dominus, Mottetti
2006-2018, recordings for Brilliant Classics
– Scarlatti and the neapolitan song
– Gesualdo: Tenebrae Responsoria
– D’Anglebert: Complete harpsichord works
– Bach: Orgelbüchlein
– Trabaci: Music for organ and harpsichord
– Stradella: Complete string Sinfonias
– Erotica Antiqua. Neapolitan Villanellas
– Correa de Arauxo: Organ music
– The Organ at European Courts
2019-21 recordings for Arcana
– Frescobaldi: Toccate, Capricci, Fiori Musicali. Francesco Cera harpsichords and historical organs (7-CD Box)
– Rasi: La Cetra di sette corde, Francesco Cera conducting the Ensemble Arte Musica, Riccardo Pisani tenor
2023 recording for Dynamic
– Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier. Francesco Cera harpsichord (4-CD Box)
He has collaborated with soloists such as the singers Guillemette Laurens and Letizia Calandra, the violinists Enrico Onofri and Marco Serino, the lutenist and theorbist Francesco Romano
He has held master classes at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Smarano Organ Academy, Piccola Accademia Montisi, Oberlin Conservatory, Yale University, Eastman School of Music in Rochester, Academia de Organo J. Echevarria (Spain), Frescobaldi Akademiet in Grimstad (Norway)
He has been a consultant for the restoration of historical organs.
Francesco Cera holds the chair of harpsichord at the Conservatorio “E.R.Duni” in Matera
Since 2022 he is Secular Oblate the the Monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore (Siena)
