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The Italian organist and harpsichordist, Francesco Bravo, began his musical studies at the age of 12 at the Istituto Musicale "F. Manzato of Treviso in the class of Don Bruno Serena. He graduated (1986) with honours in composition and organ at the Conservatorio "B. Marcello" in Venice under the guidance of Elsa Bolzonella Zoja and, with honours, in harpsichord (1991) with Patrizia Marisaldi at the Conservatorio "A. Steffani" in Castelfranco Veneto (TV). He attended, from 1983 to 1985, the course for Pre-polyphonic Music and Gregorian Chant given by Padre Pellegrino Ernetti at the Conservatorio of Venice. Recently he explored the studies of Gregorian Chant by attending a three-year advanced course taught by James Baroffio in Castelfranco Veneto (TV).
In 1991 Francesco Bravo was awarded the 2nd prize at the Competition of the "Società Umanitaria" Milan in which he participated as a harpsichordist. In 1992 he obtained, in duo with the flutist Giuliano Furlanetto, the 1st prize (Section instrumental ensembles) at the IX Concorso di Esecuzione Musicale "Città di Cento" (FE) and the 3rd prize (first not awarded) at the X Concorso Internazionale "G. B. Pergolesi" organised by the Accademia Barocca di Roma. In 1993 he won 2nd prize at the Quinto Concorso Nazionale di Esecuzione Clavicembalistica di Bologna. In 1994 he was semifinalist at the International Organ competition "The Baroque in Europe" in Brugge (Belgium).
In 1995 the "Ensemble Bizaria", which Francesco Bravo had founded, won the second edition of the "Gradus ad Parnassum" Competition for chamber groups organised by the Centro di Coordinamento Culturale della chiesa di S. Maria della Pietà (Vivaldi) in Venice (ensemble of two flutes, viola da gamba and harpsichord), in 1996, the Ensemble has been selected (the only Italian group) to participate in the semifinal of "Van Wassenaer Concours" in Amsterdam - held on September 19-22, 1996 (ensemble of flute, violin, bassoon, double bass, harpsichord).
Francesco Bravo has participated in numerous training courses and master-classes, often as an active student, held by Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini, Ton Koopman, Montserrat Torrent Serra, Harald Vogel, Michael Radulescu, Daniel Roth, Emilia Fadini, Jesper Bøje Christensen, Gordon Murray. He attended for two years (1986-1987 and 1987-1988) the lessons of Michael Radulescu on the organ of Johann Sebastian Bach in Cremona. In 1988 he obtained a scholarship by the Principality of Liechtenstein to participate in, as an active student, in the course in Vaduz (FL) held by Michael Radulescu (music by P. Hofhaimer, A. Schlick, J.S. Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and O. Messian). The same year he founded and directed "Ensemble Bizaria", a group specializes in the repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries with original instruments.
Francesco Bravo has an intensive concert activity: as a soloist (with orchestra); as basso continuo with the sopranos Laura Antonaz and Patrizia Vaccari or the basa Hugo Alberto Lamas; in duo with the flutist Giuliano Furlanetto or with the organist Giovanni Feltrin (organ in four hands, organ and harpsichord); as organist of the choir "La Compagnia di Canto" directed by Fabio Sbordone (with which he often performs organ repertoire "alternate" to the Gregorian Chant). He has collaborated also with the "Veneta Cappella Sine Nomine" directed by Carlo Rebeschini, the Orchestra "Filarmonia Veneta" of the Teatro Comunale di Treviso, the choir "Civitatis Feltriae" directed by Claudio Caretta, the Ensemble "MDC" directed by Jean Pierre Canihac, the "Nuovo Coro Polifonico" of Treviso directed by Marina Malavasi and other instrumental and vocal groups.
In September 2002 Francesco Bravo held two concerts, as the harpsichord continuo, with the choral workshop "Il Teatro Armonico" and the Baroque orchestra "I Affetti Musical" directed by Michael Radulescu (in programme of motets and cantatas by J.S. Bach). He has played with various musical groups and gave concerts in many cities in Italy, France, Switzerland, Holland, Austria and Poland. From 1992 to 1995 he was artistic director of "Concerti di Primavera" organised by the municipality of Roncade (TV).
Francesco Bravo has collaborated with the Radio della Svizzera Italiana (RSI) as an organ expert for the implementation of the "Antichi organi nel Veneto" (with music Nacchini 1751 registered office of the Chisea dell'Ospedaletto in Venice) and has tuned the registration of a historic organ (German school, 17th century) of Augio (CH). Since 1984 he is the 18th titular organist of the chiesa dei S. Andrea in Riva di Treviso, with the restored organ (1983).
Francesco Bravo has attended numerous seminars, conferences and conventions for inherent problems of cataloging, restoration and conservation of the ancient organ given by specialists in the field (Oscar Mischiati, Pierpaolo Donati, Jurgen Ahrendt, Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini, Mario Manzin, Patrizio Barbieri, Marco Tiella, etc. ). As an Honorary Inspector of the Ministry for Cultural Heritage, he takes an active interest in the protection and restoration of ancient organs and is a member of the Commission for the Protection of Artistic Board at the Soprintendenza per i Beni Ambientali ed Architettonici di Milano, delegated to the Veneto. He collaborates with the organ builder Giorgio Carli in the formulation of projects for new organs for church and studio. In 2000 he was appointed o the Board of TIM (Torneo Internazionale di Musica) for the organ section at the places of Venice and Imola.
From 1993 to 1996 Francesco Bravo was professor of organ and organ composition at the Institute "F. Manzato in Treviso. In the school year 1994-1995 he taught organ and Gregorian Chant at the Conservatorio of Matera; he held the same job in subsequent years at the Conservatories of Alexandria (1995-1996), Monopoli (1996-1997), Salerno (1997-1998), Foggia (1998-1999), Como (1999-2000 and 2000-2001), Vibo Valentia (2001-2002) and Mantua (2003-2004). |
