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With Tomatito and María Pagés as stars on the bill, Instituto Cervantes - along with The Chicago Cultural Center and American Airlines - are holding the '2003 Flamenco Festival' in Chicago (U.S.A.) February 5th to 20th. The series also schedules a recital dedicated to young artists which, under the title 'Novísimo', joins guitarist Paco Javier Jimeno, cantaora Rocío Bazán and bailaor David Morales. In the program of parallel activities, the festival has lectures on different aspects of flamenco art, as well as a photo exhibit.

Tomatito (Photo: Javier Hurtado)

When Tomatito makes his appearance at the reception offered by Instituto Cervantes on the evening of February 5th, 2003, Chicago's '2003 Flamenco Festival' will have been inaugurated. However, it will not be until the following day that the guitarist from Almería delights the audience by playing the guitar. Tomatito will be accompanied by his usual group, consisting of artists such as Potito, on cante; Joselito Fernández, on rhythm and dance; Diego Amador, on the bass; Bernardo Parrilla, on the violin; and Ramón Porrina, on percussion. The taranta 'Macael', the bulería 'Paseo de los castaños' and 'La vacilona' are foreseen to be the highlights of this recital which will take place at Preston Bardley Hall.

The crowd will have to wait a week to enjoy dancing by María Pagés, winner of the 2002 National Dance Prize of Spain. Her company will perform 'Flamenco Republic', which in the words of the Sevillian bailaora and choreographer, is a look within flamenco, since "I needed to satisfy that curiosity I always have about how dancing and singing used to be done". The show, which puts ten or so bailaors on stage, goes over styles such as soleares, seguiriyas, tangos, farrucas, cantiñas... with unusual elements such as the use of old recordings (Vallejo and Rosalía de Triana) and a sense of humor. The show will be at the Chicago Center for The Performing Arts on February 12th and 13th.

Seven days later, it will be the flamenco breeding ground's turn. 'Novísimo' includes performances by three young talents: the Málaga-born cantaora Rocío Bazán, winner of Seville's 2002 Bienal de Flamenco contest in the cante category; the guitarist Paco Javier Jimeno, also from Málaga; and the Cádiz-born bailaor David Morales, who presented the show 'Contrabandistas' in the last edition of Seville's macrofestival. The trio will perform on the 19th and 20th on the same stage as the María Pagés Company days earlier. In the three weeks spanning the festival, The Instituto Cervantes Library will hold a lecture series on subjects such as the diversity of flamenco, the guitar's evolution and flamenco from an American point of view. Added to that is the portrait exhibit 'Flamenco Faces' by Jerónimo Navarrete.

Rocío Bazán (Photo: Javier Hurtado)

'2003 Flamenco Festival' Program Instituto Cervantes Chicago (U.S.A.) February 5th to 20th, 2003. 7:00 pm Wednesday, February 5th Inaugural reception with the presence of Tomatito Thursday, February 6th 'Tomatito in concert' Preston Bardley Hall (Chicago Cultural Center) Friday, February 7th Lecture. Tomás de Utrera: 'The Variety of Flamenco' The Instituto Cervantes Library Tuesday, February 11th Lecture. Richard Brune: 'The Evolution of the Flamenco Guitar' The Instituto Cervantes Library Wednesday, February 12th and Thursday, February 13th María Pagés Company: 'Flamenco Republic' Chicago Center for The Performing Arts Tuesday, the 18th Lecture. Cathi Beste: 'Flamenco as seen from America' The Instituto Cervantes Library Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th 'Novísimo': Paco Javier Jimeno, Rocío Bazán and David Morales Chicago Center for The Performing Arts

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