Diego Amador Kicks Off Flamenco 2004 In His U.S. Debut At The Chicago Cultural Center January

Chicago, USA – The Instituto Cervantes de Chicago in collaboration with the
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents Diego Amador in the opening
night concert of Flamenco 2004. The concert will take place on Wednesday, Jan.
14 at 7 p.m. under the grand Tiffany dome in Preston Bradley Hall of the
historic Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. Making his U.S. debut,
Diego will be accompanied by Luis Amador on percussion.

Born in 1973 into one of the elite families of Seville’s Tres Mil Viviendas
neighborhood, by the young age of 11, Diego Amador was already playing
professionally and had mastered drums, guitar, piano, and bass, and possessed an
unusually powerful voice. He joined the revered flamenco rock band Pata Negra
founded by his brothers Raimundo and Rafael. Now considered one of the few
flamenco masters on the piano, he developed his own self-taught method and is
able to adapt traditional guitar accompaniment formats to the keyboard, winning
the admiration of his colleagues in the flamenco sphere.He has also played with
La
Susi, Remedios Amaya and

Joaquin Grilo and is a long-time member of

Tomatito‘s Sextet. Internationally, Amador has collaborated with artists
such as Larry Coryell, Luis Salinas, Alex Acuna, Birelli Lagrene and Jerry
Gonzalez. As one of the most gifted young musician-composers of the current
flamenco scene, he remains very much rooted in the unique gypsy approach to
rhythm and harmonic structure and is thus hailed as a provocative, innovative
and creative force within flamenco’s evolution. His skills are showcased on his
Fantasy Records release Piano Jondo on which he plays practically every
instrument. His genius and trademark magnetism or “duende” are also amply
reflected in live performances.

The Chicago Cultural Center will also host a concert with

Gerardo Núñez featuring Antonio Alvarez “Pitingo” Monday, Feb. 9 as part of
Flamenco 2004! that runs through Feb. 16. The festival features live
performances from Spain’s most current and popular stars in flamenco dance and
music as well as lectures and cutting-edge flamenco films. Presented by the
Instituto Cervantes de Chicago in collaboration with the Chicago Department of
Cultural Affairs, participating venues include the Chicago Cultural Center, the
Chicago Symphony Center, the Gene Siskel Film Center, Martyrs, and the Ensemble
Español Dance Theatre.

For tickets or information about Flamenco 2004! contact The Instituto Cervantes
de Chicago at 312-335-1996 or visit
www.cervantes1.org.

Public programs are presented by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural
Affairs. Public programs at the Chicago Cultural Center are partially supported
by grants from the Chicago Cultural Center Foundation and the Illinois Arts
Council, a state agency, with the Days Inn Lincoln Park-North as its official
hotel sponsor.

Following is the program schedule for Flamenco 2004!

The Instituto Cervantes de Chicago in collaboration with the Chicago Department
of Cultural Affairs presents:

FLAMENCO 2004!
Jan. 14 – Feb. 16

CONCERTS

Diego Amador
Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.
Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington St.
312-744-6630
Free Admission

José Mercé
and special opening performance TBA
Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.
Venue TBA

Gerardo Nuñez featuring Antonio Alvarez “Pitingo”
Monday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.
Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington St.
312-744-6630
Free Admission

Ojos de Brujo
Saturday, Feb. 14 at 10 p.m.
Martyrs Chicago
3855 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-404-9494
www.martyrslive.com
$15 in advance and $17 at the door

Festival Closing Concert
Paco
de Lucía
Monday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m.
Symphony Center
220 S. Michigan Ave.
312-294-3000
www.cso.org
Admission $15-$65

LECTURES

All lectures will take place at the Instituto Cervantes de Chicago, 875 N.
Michigan Ave., Suite 2940. Free and open to the public.

Friday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.- Tomás de Utrera: Mundo y Forma del Cante Gitano Andaluz

Friday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m.- Christopher Maurer: García Lorca
Friday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m.- Dame Libby Komaiko: Flamenco’s Journey

ART EXHIBITION

28th Anniversary Celebration of the
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theatre
Instituto Cervantes de Chicago
875 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2940
Opening reception Friday, Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Closes March 8, 2004

The Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theatre in residence at Northeastern
University celebrates its 28th anniversary with an exhibition highlighting the
best posters and photographs of performances celebrating the art of flamenco
dancing. Flamenco costumes will also be displayed. Members of the Ensemble
Español Spanish Dance Theatre will be present at the opening.

INSTITUTO CERVANTES DE CHICAGO

The Instituto Cervantes de Chicago was established in 1991 for the promotion and
teaching of the Spanish language and to nurture the growth of the Spanish and
Spanish-American culture. With its main headquarters in the Spanish cities of
Madrid and Alcalá de Henares (birthplace of the writer Miguel de Cervantes),
additional facilities are also located in Africa, Asia, Europe and North and
South America. The objectives and functions of the Instituto Cervantes include
organizing specialized and general Spanish language courses, updating teaching
methodologies and training teaching professionals, sponsoring activities which
promote Spanish and Ibero-American culture, and providing for the general public
libraries equipped with the most advanced technologies and information about
Spain and Spanish and Ibero-American culture.

For tickets or information about Flamenco 2004! contact The Instituto Cervantes
de Chicago at 312-335-1996 or visit
www.cervantes1.org.