Chicago, Illinois, USA - The Instituto Cervantes de Chicago in collaboration with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents Antonio Pitingo in the first night of concerts scheduled as part of Flamenco 2005! Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. under the grand Tiffany dome in Preston Bradley Hall of the historic Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

Pitingo made his international debut with guitarist Gerardo Núñez at the Chicago Cultural Center in Feb. 2004 as part of the flamenco festival. For his return performance, he will be accompanied by guitarist Luis Miguel Valle Manzano and dancer Fernando Soto Valencia. Admission is free.

Antonio Pitingo was born in 1980 in Huelva, a city in Spain's southern Andalusia region. His love for flamenco comes from his family and friends, all of whom are from Cádiz and Huelva. He sang as a child, but at age 14, began to take flamenco cante seriously, with his favorite forms being Fandango, Malagueña, Granaina, Solea and Bulería. Among his favorite male flamenco singers (cantaores) are Caracol, Tomás Pavón, El Carbonerillo, El Sevillano, Camarón de la Isla, and Enrique Morente. It has only been a year since he has started to sing professionally, yet his voice has a very old echo that comes from deep within him. He also has a tremendous affinity for old flamenco songs (cantes). He goes to the roots of the cantes, modifies and adapts them to his own voice, thereby transforming them into something more personal. His love for the cante of the golden years and the privilege of having a mind that truly understands the soul of flamenco music make him one of the genre's current stars.

The Chicago Cultural Center will also host a concert with Arcángel Wednesday, Feb. 9 as part of Flamenco 2005! that runs Jan. 12 - Feb. 14. The festival features a mix of free and ticketed events including 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 Athenaeum, HotHouse/CIPEX, Old Town School of Folk Music, the Chicago Symphony Center, the Gene Siskel Film Center, and the Flamenco Arts Center.

For tickets or information about Flamenco 2005! contact The Instituto Cervantes de Chicago at 312-335-1996 or visit www.cervantes1.org.

For information on the admission free concert with Antonio Pitingo & Special Guests, call 312-744-6630 or visit www.chicagoculturalcenter.org.