Marco Brescia

Italian / Brazilian organist settled in Oporto (PRT), Marco Brescia is specialized in historically informed performance practice of the Iberian and Italian keyboard repertoire, performing in prestigious concert venues and international festivals throughout Europe and Latin America. Brescia holds a Master in Performance of Early Music/Historic Organ (Catalonia College of Music/University Autónoma de Barcelona), in which he was awarded with the prestigious “matrícula de honor”, as well as a PhD in Musicology/Organology (Universities Sorbonne-Paris IV/NOVA de Lisboa), receiving the highest commendation, “très honorable à l’unanimité”. Actually, Brescia is a post-doctoral researcher at the Foundation for Science and Technology of Portugal and effective member of the Center for Studies of Sociology and Musical Aesthetics at the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. He is the author of the critical edition of the Libro de Órgano de Melchor Lopez (1781), published by the Consorcio of Santiago to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Marco Brescia is co-founder of the ensemble Favola d’Argo, having also collaborated with notorious ensemble Ministriles de Marsias. Since 2006 he forms an acclaimed duo with soprano Rosana Orsini. Main organist of the historical organ Almeida e Silva / Lobo de Mesquita of Diamantina (1787), he is the artistic director of the Festival Internacional de Música Histórica de Diamantina (BRA) and Ciclo de concertos de órgão: Vila Nova de Famalicão e Santo Tirso (PRT). For his work in favour of the preservation and restoration of the Brazilian historic organ heritage he was decorated by the Government of the State of Minas Gerais with the Medalha de Honra Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek.