Antonio Breschi
Encyclopedia
Antonio Breschi, is a composer and pianist who comes from the small village of San Quirico in Collina near Florence
, Italy
. Although very accomplished in classical music, he is best known as one of the originators of New Age or World Music
. He is also internationally-known as the inventor of Celtic piano
playing. He divides his time living and recording both in Ireland
and Italy
. He also calls himself Antoni O'Breskey, to reflect his love for Ireland
.
On April 6, 2005, Ireland celebrated his thirty years of work at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, where he was joined by Ronnie Drew
, Barney McKenna
, and John Sheehan of The Dubliners
. He was also joined by flamenco guitarist Juan Martin
, accordianist Mairtin O'Connor, and Joe McHugh.
His latest project is called Ethnic Piano, and is a compilation of many of his works and is published on 14 compact discs. The last CD, Song for Carla, is a special edition of original songs written to commemorate the finding of his daughter, Carla, who disappeared as a child in the United States for 17 years. Ronnie Drew
and Shirley Grimes are featured performers. Carla was found after an American insurance investigator
, Alan McClendon of Macon, Georgia, heard about this story in 1997 while listening to the National Public Radio show, The Thistle and Shamrock, hosted by Fiona Ritchie
. He volunteered to search for her, and, after an intensive and complicated search, McClendon traced Carla to a small town in Paraguay
near the Iguazu Falls
. After establishing contact with her, through cooperative efforts involving both the Anglican Church as well as the U.S. Consulate in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
, she was soon reunited with her father. The recording is dedicated to both Ritchie and McClendon for their efforts.
Interestingly, one of the people instrumental in the search was Douglas Gresham
, the stepson of C. S. Lewis
. Gresham was portrayed in the movie Shadowlands
by actor Joseph Mazzello
, his mother Joy was portrayed by Debra Winger
, and his stepfather, C. S. Lewis
was portrayed by Anthony Hopkins
. McClendon and Gresham stayed in communication during the search, and he proved to be a valuable source, especially regarding the ethics of reporting information to outside parties if the search was successful. After Carla was found, McClendon and Gresham met for the first time in Ireland when he stayed at Gresham's house for several days following several weeks of celebration in Italy in 1997. Gresham is now a producer of the successful film series based on the Chronicles of Narnia.
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Although very accomplished in classical music, he is best known as one of the originators of New Age or World Music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
. He is also internationally-known as the inventor of Celtic piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
playing. He divides his time living and recording both in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He also calls himself Antoni O'Breskey, to reflect his love for Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
On April 6, 2005, Ireland celebrated his thirty years of work at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, where he was joined by Ronnie Drew
Ronnie Drew
Joseph Ronald "Ronnie" Drew was an Irish singer and folk musician who achieved international fame during a fifty-year career recording with The Dubliners. He was born in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin...
, Barney McKenna
Barney McKenna
Bernard Noël "Barney" McKenna or Banjo Barney as he is known amongst his fellow musicians, is an Irish musician who plays the tenor banjo, mandolin, and melodeon. He is most renowned as a banjo player...
, and John Sheehan of The Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
. He was also joined by flamenco guitarist Juan Martin
Juan Martín
Juan Cristóbal Martín is a Spanish flamenco guitarist and an author of flamenco guitar method books.-Career:Martín started learning the guitar at the age of six. In his early twenties he moved to Madrid to study under Niño Ricardo and Paco de Lucía. He played in clubs in Málaga, Seville and...
, accordianist Mairtin O'Connor, and Joe McHugh.
Ronnie Drew
Joseph Ronald "Ronnie" Drew was an Irish singer and folk musician who achieved international fame during a fifty-year career recording with The Dubliners. He was born in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin...
and Shirley Grimes are featured performers. Carla was found after an American insurance investigator
False insurance claims
Insurance fraud or false insurance claims are insurance claims filed with the intent to defraud an insurance provider.-Health insurance fraud:...
, Alan McClendon of Macon, Georgia, heard about this story in 1997 while listening to the National Public Radio show, The Thistle and Shamrock, hosted by Fiona Ritchie
Fiona Ritchie
Fiona Ritchie is a Scottish radio broadcaster best known as the producer and host of The Thistle & Shamrock, an hour-long Celtic music program that airs weekly throughout the United States on National Public Radio...
. He volunteered to search for her, and, after an intensive and complicated search, McClendon traced Carla to a small town in Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
near the Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls, Iguassu Falls, or Iguaçu Falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River located on the border of the Brazilian State of Paraná and the Argentine Province of Misiones. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River originates near the city of Curitiba. It flows...
. After establishing contact with her, through cooperative efforts involving both the Anglican Church as well as the U.S. Consulate in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, she was soon reunited with her father. The recording is dedicated to both Ritchie and McClendon for their efforts.
Interestingly, one of the people instrumental in the search was Douglas Gresham
Douglas Gresham
Douglas Gresham is an American-born British biographer and film producer, resident in Malta, and one of the two stepsons of C. S. Lewis.- Personal life :...
, the stepson of C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
. Gresham was portrayed in the movie Shadowlands
Shadowlands
Shadowlands is a 1985 television film, written by William Nicholson, directed by Norman Stone and produced by David M. Thompson for BBC Wales. Its subject is the relationship between Oxford don and author, C. S. Lewis and Joy Gresham....
by actor Joseph Mazzello
Joseph Mazzello
Joseph Francis Mazzello III is an American actor who is best known for his roles as Tim Murphy in Jurassic Park, Eugene Sledge in the HBO miniseries The Pacific, and Dustin Moskovitz in The Social Network....
, his mother Joy was portrayed by Debra Winger
Debra Winger
Mary Debra Winger is an American actress. Three-times an Oscar nominee, she received awards for acting in Terms of Endearment, for which she won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress in 1983, and in A Dangerous Woman, for which she won the Tokyo International Film Festival...
, and his stepfather, C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
was portrayed by Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, KBE , best known as Anthony Hopkins, is a Welsh actor of film, stage and television...
. McClendon and Gresham stayed in communication during the search, and he proved to be a valuable source, especially regarding the ethics of reporting information to outside parties if the search was successful. After Carla was found, McClendon and Gresham met for the first time in Ireland when he stayed at Gresham's house for several days following several weeks of celebration in Italy in 1997. Gresham is now a producer of the successful film series based on the Chronicles of Narnia.