Biber Mystery Sonatas

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 in the works of Girolamo Frescobaldi.
A student of L. Ferdinando Tagliavini and the renowned Gustav Leonhardt, Cera received his diploma from the Amsterdam Conservatory in 1991. That same year, he became the harpsichordist of the ensemble Il Giardino Armonico, with whom he made numerous recordings for Teldec and performed throughout Europe. In addition to the Giardino Armonico, he has collaborated with the chamber orchestra I Solisti di Pavia (conducted by Enrico Dindo), the Cameristi della Scala, the orchestra of I Pomeriggi Musicali.
In 1996, Cera founded the Ensemble Arte Musica, specializing in Italian vocal music from Gesualdo and Monteverdi to the cantatas of the 18th century.
Cera has performed both solo recitals and as director of Ensemble Arte Musica at major venues and festivals including the Utrecht Early Music Festival, Festival of Flanders, Resonanzen in Vienna, Baroktage Melk, Philharmonie Köln, Tage Alter Musik in Herne, Lådegard in Oslo, Festival de Maguelone, Abbaye de Saint-Michel en Thiérache, Les Sommets Musicaux in Gstaad, Musica e Poesia a San Maurizio in Milan, Accademia Filarmonica in Rome, Festival Monteverdi in Cremona, Bologna Festival, and Sagra Musicale Malatestiana in Rimini. He has also performed recitals on historical organs across Europe, Scandinavia, and the United States. From 1995 to 2005, Cera collaborated regularly with Diego Fasolis and I Barocchisti in Lugano, recording for Arts, Virgin, and Decca. His other collaborations include singers Guillemette Laurens and Letizia Calandra; violinists Enrico Onofri, Marco Serino, and Elicia Silverstein; and lutenist Francesco Romano.
Cera’s extensive solo discography on both organ and harpsichord spans repertoire from 16th- and 17th-century Italian music to the sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti, the French Suites, Harpsichord Concertos, and Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach, as well as works by D’Anglebert and Correa de Arauxo. His most recent recording, published by Arcana, features works by Girolamo Frescobaldi performed on nine rare historical instruments.
Cera has given masterclasses and seminars at institutions including the Royal Academy of Music in London, Yale University, Oberlin Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, Smarano Organ Academy, Piccola Accademia Montisi, Academia de Órgano J. Echevarría, and the Frescobaldi Akademiet in Grimstad.
He also serves as a consultant for the restoration of historical organs in Italy and currently holds the chair of harpsichord professor at the Conservatorio “E.R. Duni” in Matera.